Gyro Technologies Ltd issues Request for Proposals
Gyro Technologies Ltd. have issued a request for proposals from suitable companies to build and test a full scale working GVT prototype.
Request for Proposal
December 2011. GVT features in new book on wind turbines. 
A new book, 'Innovation In Wind Turbines' by wind turbine expert Peter Jamieson, devotes a whole chapter to GVT. The book is
available from Wiley click here or Amazon click here
26th May 2008- Globally, there could be some 718000 MW installed wind capacity by 2017 according to German researchers.
Berlin, 26 May 2008
The international wind energy industry takes a very positive view of further development of the worldwide wind energy market in the coming years. Thus the world market volume of annual new installations is expected to be multiplied by five within ten years, from about 20 000 MW in 2007 to about 107 000 MW in 2017. The results of the fourth WindEnergy Study were presented in Berlin today – they were commissioned by Husum WindEnergy 2008 with the German Wind Energy Institute (DEWI) in the run-up to the industry’s leading international fair. As the survey of companies active in this international industry showed, there could be a total of some 718,000 installed wind power worldwide by the end of 2017 (compared with about 94 000 MW at the end of 2007).
“This survey gives the companies in the industry a vital preview of the markets of the future. Its results are also reflected in the structure of the leading international trade fair of the wind energy industry, Husum WindEnergy, with exhibitors from 35 countries, including national pavilions from the USA, Canada, France and the UK, and with visitors from 40 countries, that is from the growth markets,” says Hanno Fecke, Managing Director of the Husum Trade Fair. “Thae Wind Energy-Study has provided a continuous set of data over the years, giving the industry an outstanding overview and a valuable forecast of the development of the global wind energy market,” says Bernd Aufderheide, Chairman of the Management Board of Hamburg Messe und Congress, which is the cooperation partner of Husum Trade Fair.
The data for Germany are applicable for the time of the survey, that is before the amendment of the Renewable Energies Act and thus before the decision on new conditions. They show possible total installation of 31 800 MW by 2012, of which 28 000 MW is onshore and about 3 800 MW offshore. The figure for 2017 is a total of 44 000 MW installed power, of which 32 500 MW onshore and 11 500 MW in the North Sea and Baltic Sea. That means about 13% more installed power onshore than was forecast in the 2006 Study. A scenario shown at the same time in the WindEnergy Study of the German wind market up to 2030 also gives a very much more positive view than two years ago. It indicates that there could be a total of as much as 65 000 MW on stream in 2030 (onshore and offshore), meeting about 31% of gross German power demand. That would mean some 35 100 MW installed onshore (i.e. about 7 200 MW more than was forecast in 2006) and some 30 000 MW offshore.
“The WindEnergy Study 2008 forecasts strong continuous growth for the global wind industry,” says Thorsten Herdan, Managing Director of the Manufacturers’ Association VDMA Power Systems. “For 2017 we are talking about a total sales volume of well over 100 billion euros. To realise this optimistic forecast, German manufacturers and equipment suppliers, who account for more than one third of total sales volume in the wind industry, would have to make another massive increase in their production capacities for turbines and components. A continuous home market for onshore and offshore wind energy, and sufficient skilled manpower, is essential to bring these enormous investments to Germany.” Hermann Albers, President of the Federal Wind Energy Association (BWE), sees Germany as the clear winner in the global wind energy boom, and notes that “the German export quota of some 80% of manufactured components and turbines is safeguarding and creating more and more jobs –more than 80 000 of them already today.”
The companies surveyed suppose steady development in the European market in the next five years. They are expecting some 129 000 MW installed power by 2012, as compared with 57 136 MW at the end of 2007. Global installed power is expected to reach 288 000 MW by 2012 (versus 94 000 MW at the end of 2007). The study predicts that by 2012 more than half the installed wind turbine power will be outside of Europe, as compared to only 39% in 2007. That shows how fast the non-European markets are catching up with Europe in use of wind energy, and just how much potential this market holds.
The focus of worldwide growth last year was in the USA, China, Spain, Germany and India, with some 78% of new installations. The respondents feel that the USA, China and Spain have great growth potential into the future, and there are also other countries that are becoming important to them, such as Greece and South Korea. The extension of tax benefits for wind energy adopted by the US Senate (PTC) by the end of 2009 (the decision by Congress is still pending) will most likely enable the US wind industry to continue breaking records in the next two years. The majority of companies surveyed feel that the US market will survive even without extension of PTC, as various states are funding wind energy.
“The WindEnergy Study provides impressive proof of the sustained upswing for wind energy worldwide” says Steve Sawyer of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC). “The market growth shown in the study, that is some 20% per annum worldwide up to 2017, is a great opportunity for the industry, the labour markets, and for climate protection.”
In China a total of 44 manufacturers installed new turbines with total capacity of 3 499 MW in 2007. Nearly two thirds (62%) of respondents feel that this development gives them good chances of participating in the Chinese market. As many as 19% of the companies participating in the survey see opportunities for themselves to develop wind farm projects in China – mostly in the framework of joint ventures. Respondents feel that the competitors growing up rapidly in China will be competing in the world market from 2010 onwards.
HUSUM WindEnergy 2008 – the leading international wind industry fair – has for the first time been organised as a cooperation venture between the Husum Trade Fair and the Hamburg Trade Fair. From 9 to 13 September, some 700 exhibitors from 35 countries will present their products and services at the Husum trade fair site, including the world’s leading wind turbine manufacturers and their equipment suppliers. This fair is dedicated to the wind industry, and will be the international meeting point and forum for companies and trade visitors for five days.
Wind Power Growth Blows Past Projections
http://www.worldwatch.org/node/5698
Washington, D.C.-Global wind power capacity rose 27 percent in 2007 to more than 94,100 megawatts, led by capacity additions in the European Union, the United States, and China, according to the latest Vital Sign Update from the Worldwatch Institute.
New wind installations were second only to natural gas in the United States as an additional source of power capacity and were the leading source of new capacity in the EU. In China, the estimated 3,449 megawatts of wind turbines added last year propelled China past the government's ambitious wind power target for 2010.
The addition of a record-breaking 5,244 megawatts of wind capacity in the United States in 2007-enough to power 4.5 million U.S. homes-was driven by the federal production tax credit and by renewable energy mandates in 25 states and the District of Columbia. The nation's wind capacity now totals 16,818 megawatts, second only to Germany. The production tax credit is set to expire at the end of this year. "If Congress acts quickly to extend the tax credit, the U.S. will likely pass Germany to lead the world in wind power within the next two years," according to Janet Sawin, a Worldwatch senior researcher and the author of the update.
Germany remains the world leader in wind power capacity, with almost 24 percent of the global total (22,247 megawatts), but it experienced a lackluster year in 2007. Still, renewable energy resources now generate more than 14 percent of Germany's electricity needs, with about half of this coming from wind. Spain led Europe in new installations in 2007, now ranking third worldwide in total wind capacity (15,145 megawatts). France, Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom all experienced significant growth last year as well. In all, EU wind power capacity rose 18 percent in 2007, and the region is home to 60 percent of global installed capacity.
China was the biggest surprise in 2007. Barely in the wind business three years ago, China trailed only the United States and Spain in new wind installations in 2007, and ranked fifth in total installed capacity (6,050 megawatts). However, an estimated one-fourth of this capacity remains unconnected to the grid due to planning problems.
This explosive growth occurred amidst a backdrop of serious turbine shortages, a challenge that is expected to be ameliorated sometime in 2009. Despite higher costs due to turbine shortages, rising material costs, and increased manufacturing profitability, wind power remains competitive with new natural gas plants, and all conventional power plants have seen similar construction-cost increases. Wind power will become increasingly competitive with coal as more countries put a commodity price on carbon.
The global wind market was worth an estimated $36 billion in 2007, accounting for almost half of all investment in new renewable electric and heating capacity. As many as 200,000 people are now employed in the wind industry worldwide. These numbers will only rise in the coming years as the EU seeks to meet aggressive 2020 targets for renewables and as the United States, China, and other nations realize their enormous potential for wind power.
"The wind industry has consistently blown by past projections," says Sawin, "and it will likely continue to do so for years to come."
Click on this link for the Worldwatch Website www.worldwatch.org
May 2004, Summary of findings from the Garrad Hassan “Evaluation of a GVT System for Wind Turbines” (Phase Two)
The Phase Two evaluation of GVT for Wind Power was completed by independent Wind Power consultants Garrad Hassan in May 2004
The Objectives of this study were as follows:
- To explore optimum exploitation of the GVT concept
- To develop an outline design of a GVT system for a megawatt scale wind turbine that is fit for subsequent detailed design, manufacture and prototype testing
- Based on the completed design, to review the economic potential of the GVT system in future production and provide recommendations to a milestone review meeting
The evaluation stated that “There is general encouragement that a GVT system may realise a power train of lower mass and lower cost than the conventional solutions for variable speed operation” and that “Further development of the GVYT concept for the wind turbine application is recommended”.
Click on this link for the full report (2.2mb Adobe PDF file)
Garrad Hassan also prepared a one page poster of the report which was shown at the 2004 London Wind Power conference. Click on this link for the one page poster summary of the report (2.2mb Adobe PDF file)
The next phase is to undertake the design of a detailed GyroTorque prototype, with the aim of manufacturing the prototype, carrying out wind turbine field tests and finally through to the development of a production unit. For more information please contact us
Summary of findings from the Garrad Hassan (Phase One)Study
In July 2002, Gyro Energy Ltd commissioned GH Garrad Hassan and Partners Ltd (GH), leading independent wind power consultants to undertake an evaluation of a GVT (Gyroscopic Variable Transmission) system for use in wind power generation. The study which was completed in January 2003 set the following objectives.
- Assess the general suitability of the GyroTorque concept for use in wind turbine applications.
- Identify main advantages and disadvantages, the most appropriate application within wind power technology and the most advantageous configuration of GyroTorque.
- Appraise whether such an appropriate GyroTorque system can be employed with a net cost benefit.
The report identified the unique features of GyroTorque and found that the GyroTorque has potential benefits for wind turbine applications. Specific findings of the study follow:
- With multiple GyroTorque units coupled in parallel, output power quality comparable to that of other technologies can be achieved.
- The GyroTorque system has potential for efficiency gains and good allowable cost margins to permit net cost benefit over conventional systems
The report made several recommendations for the next steps Gyro Energy should take which might involve licensing and/or joint ventures. Due to the time required, GH could not achieve the third objective within the cost and time allowed for the study.
Click on this link for the full Phase One report (600kb Adobe PDF file)
A further study (Phase 2) by GH completed in May 2004 explored the optimum exploitation of the GVT concept and developed an outline design of a GVT system for a MW scale wind turbine. It also reviewed the economic potential of GVT in future production.
Click on this link for the full Phase Two report (2mb Adobe PDF file)