Alstom upgraded its 3-MW onshore ECO 100 turbine to maximize available wind resources. Currently designed for medium (Class II-A) wind sites, the turbine now can handle medium and high winds (IEC Class II-A, and IS Class). The ECO 122 turbine, currently suitable for Class III sites, is being upgraded to handle medium and low winds (IEC Class III-A, and II B Class). The upgrade increases the net capacity factor to up to 48 percent for both turbines.

Commonwealth Utilities Corp. (CUC) in Saipan ordered two-way electric meters with Nighthawk communications technology. The meters are expected to enable a pre-paid metering system to improve collections and cash flow. CUC also expects the meters’ voltage monitoring to provide better information about system status in remote locations.

Siemens released a new data center infrastructure management (DCIM) system, Datacenter Clarity LC. The system aims to provide building automation and energy management features for data centers, combining Siemens’ enterprise integration and management capabilities with data center-specific software built upon Siemens Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) software.

SOLON completed construction of 1.15 MW of solar systems for the Tanque Verde Unified School District (TVUSD) in Arizona. Spread over four campuses – Tanque Verde Elementary School, Aqua Caliente Elementary School, Emily Gray Junior High School, and Tanque Verde High School – the solar systems are a combination of shade structures and rooftop systems. With over 4,000 solar modules, the systems will offset a daytime electricity requirements of each campus. MP2 Capital will sell all of the power generated from the systems to the school district under a 25-year agreement.

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission announced it will re-examine the proposed 78-MW Goodhue wind project in Goodhue County, given changes in ownership structure, financing, date of service, and operating elements. New Era (formerly AWA Goodhue), the current project owner, and Xcel Energy, the power purchaser, are re-negotiating project milestones, including the in-service date.

NB Power awarded a contract to ABB to upgrade to the Eel River high-voltage direct current (HVDC) converter station, located near Dalhousie, New Brunswick. The bidirectional station transfers up to 350 MW and is one of two facilities allowing power exchange between New Brunswick and Quebec, providing access to Maritime and New England markets. 

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power sold one 625-MW block of its 1,250-MW Mesquite gas-fired power plant to Salt River Project (SRP) for $371 million. In addition to 100-percent ownership of the 625-MW power block, SRP gained a 50-percent undivided interest in plant facilities. Sempra retains ownership of the power plant’s remaining 625-MW power block and 50-percent interest in the plant facilities. As part of the transaction, Salt River Project will become the operator of the Mesquite facility.

Dominion acquired a solar energy development project from Smart Energy Capital and Jacoby Development. The Azalea facility, planned near Augusta in east-central Georgia, is expected to produce approximately 7.7 MW (AC) using photovoltaic technology. Dominion plans to select a contractor and oversee the construction of the project, which is expected to sell power to Cobb Electric Membership Corp. under a 25-year agreement, starting in December 2013. Financial details weren’t disclosed.

The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) conducted test flights in Alabama of prototype unmanned aerial systems (UAS) and payloads of video and other sensing equipment to demonstrate that such “drone” technology could be deployed to assess damage to electric transmission and distribution systems following storms. EPRI tested an Aeryon Scout and the Adaptive Flight Hornet Maxi, two rotary winged devices at altitudes under 100 feet, carrying payloads that weighed less than 55 pounds.

Landsnet, the Icelandic transmission system operator, awarded $10 million order to ABB to supply a high-voltage submarine and underground power-cable system that will transport electricity from the mainland to the volcanic island of Heimaey. The new 72-kV line will replace an existing cable that is approaching the end of its operating life. The 17.5-km line will include a 13-km submarine section, a 4.5-km underground section, and an integrated fiber-optic cable for telecommunications and temperature monitoring.