Abstract: An apparatus is for performing parts of an operation to install a wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine has a tower, wherein i) the tower has a plurality of sections of the tower; ii) installation of the tower includes stacking the sections; iii) during the installation the tower has an installed part of the tower and sections of the tower yet to be installed; and iv) the installed part of the tower includes one or more installed sections of the tower. The apparatus comprises a travelling car for being selectively raised or lowered along the tower and a device for selectively raising or lowering the travelling car. The device for selectively raising or lowering the travelling car is arranged to connect the travelling car to an uppermost installed section of the tower.

Abstract: An apparatus is for performing a part of an operation to install a tower for a wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine has a tower, wherein the apparatus has a travelling car for travelling up and down along the tower of the wind turbine and for carrying an item to be installed as part of the wind turbine, wherein the travelling car has a device for balancing the travelling car, and wherein the device for balancing the travelling car has a weight configured to be movably connected to the travelling car i) for allowing keeping the travelling car balanced under exposure to a force or ii) for avoiding, correcting or reducing a shift in a centre of gravity of the travelling car. Further is disclosed a method of balancing a travelling car for an apparatus for performing at least a part of an operation to install a wind turbine.

Abstract: An apparatus is for performing parts of an operation to install a wind turbine, wherein the wind turbine has a tower, wherein the apparatus has a travelling car for travelling up and down along the tower for the wind turbine, and wherein the travelling car has a movable portion of a deck of the travelling car, wherein the movable portion of the deck is configured to carry an item to be installed as part of the wind turbine to a height for installation of the item and for moving the item substantially horizontally into a position for installation of the item when the travelling car is in a vertical position for installation of said item. Further is disclosed a method of installing at least a part of a wind turbine.

Abstract: There is described a hoisting system and method of lifting that make use of a particular fibre rope. The fibre rope includes a plurality of magnets that are embedded within the fibre rope and spaced apart along the rope with a known axial distance between the magnets. The system may include a fibre rope hoisting speed sensor, and a magnetic field sensor that can sense the presence of the magnetic field of the embedded magnets. Using the sensors, the hoisting speed of the rope may be determined by: measuring the time between the passing of consecutive magnets by using the magnetic field sensor; calculating the distance between consecutive magnets using the hoisting speed sensor and the measured time between the passing of the consecutive magnets; and comparing the calculated distance between the magnets with an original, predefined distance between the magnets.

Abstract: A floating foundation for an offshore wind turbine has a center pipe, a buoyancy section, a weight section, and a plurality of wire ropes, The buoyancy section is connected to the center pipe to keep the foundation floating. The weight section is connected to the center pipe to provide stability to the foundation. The wire ropes are connected to the buoyancy section and the weight section and are arranged for being tensioned so as to add bending strength to the foundation The floating foundation has hoisting means for lowering or raising the center pipe. The hoisting means includes winches for increasing or decreasing a length of each of wire ropes connecting the buoyancy section and the weight section, for lowering or raising the center pipe of the floating foundation. A system is disclosed for extracting energy from wind. A method is disclosed for installing a wind turbine.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a knuckle-boom crane to a heave-compensating crane includes: removing a knuckle-boom from a main boom; mounting a main boom extension to the main boom for increasing the length of the main boom; and mounting a heave-compensating boom at a far end of the main boom extension such that the heave-compensating boom extends in a downward vertical direction (Z) in operational use of the heave-compensating crane. The heave-compensating boom is configured to be pivotable with respect to the main boom extension in both horizontal directions (X, Y). A heave-compensation system is provided to the knuckle-boom crane, wherein the heave-compensation system compensates for horizontal variations by controlling the orientation of the heave-compensating boom relative to the main boom extension, and compensates for vertical variations by means of a further vertical heave-compensation system, such as a winch-based heave-compensation system.

Abstract: There is described a hoisting system and method of lifting that make use of a particular fibre rope. The fibre rope includes a plurality of magnets that are embedded within the fibre rope and spaced apart along the rope with a known axial distance between the magnets. The system may include a fibre rope hoisting speed sensor, and a magnetic field sensor that can sense the presence of the magnetic field of the embedded magnets. Using the sensors, the hoisting speed of the rope may be determined by: measuring the time between the passing of consecutive magnets by using the magnetic field sensor; calculating the distance between consecutive magnets using the hoisting speed sensor and the measured time between the passing of the consecutive magnets; and comparing the calculated distance between the magnets with an original, predefined distance between the magnets.

Abstract: A tracking system for performing a movement control of a solar panel is provided, having a single axis solar tracking solution allowing an individual actuation of a solar panel and its respective rotation axis. The tracking system is applied in an individual solar panel, and has a local control unit, an electrical motor, a tracking actuator mechanism, a blockage unit and a tracking support mechanism, which is useful for solar power plant installations where individual panel tracking is an advantage due to site conditions such as irregular grounds or unstable locations as in aquatic sites or locations with variable slopes.

Abstract: A set of connectors for modular support platforms is provided. The connectors are used to aggregate at least two support elements, forming a support platform which can be rearranged by adding new support elements and connectors. The set of connectors is used to form a modular support platform for a solar panel power plant, allowing its installation in water surfaces.

Abstract: A rotating floating platform, adapted to accommodate energy production systems, namely solar panels but not limited to these systems. The technology now developed provides rotational movement to the entire platform, on the plane of the aquatic medium where it floats, being its rotation capacity independent of fixed and rigid structures. In order to achieve this independency, the rotating floating platform comprises a central floating module connected directly or indirectly to at least two propulsion modules, where the connection to the bottom of the basin being provided through a flexible mooring unit forming a rotation floating structure where the momentum and the rotation axis act as one, thus creating a rotation platform.

Abstract: A method of upgrading a knuckle-boom crane to a heave-compensating crane includes: removing a knuckle-boom from a main boom; mounting a main boom extension to the main boom for increasing the length of the main boom; and mounting a heave-compensating boom at a far end of the main boom extension such that the heave-compensating boom extends in a downward vertical direction (Z) in operational use of the heave-compensating crane. The heave-compensating boom is configured to be pivotable with respect to the main boom extension in both horizontal directions (X, Y). A heave-compensation system is provided to the knuckle-boom crane, wherein the heave-compensation system compensates for horizontal variations by controlling the orientation of the heave-compensating boom relative to the main boom extension, and compensates for vertical variations by means of a further vertical heave-compensation system, such as a winch-based heave-compensation system.

Abstract: A floating module for modular solar panel platforms having two separate components mounted, a structural component that is a rigid component and a buoyancy component that is a flexible component allowing for a more compact and simple solution all-around. The floating module allows for a technologically more advanced floating component, easier to produce, transport and deploy than most currently available solutions.

Abstract: A floating module for modular solar panel platforms having two separate components mounted, a structural component that is a rigid component and a buoyancy component that is a flexible component allowing for a more compact and simple solution all-around. The floating module allows for a technologically more advanced floating component, easier to produce, transport and deploy than most currently available solutions.

Abstract: A set of connectors for modular support platforms is provided. The connectors are used to aggregate at least two support elements, forming a support platform which can be rearranged by adding new support elements and connectors. The set of connectors is used to form a modular support platform for a solar panel power plant, allowing its installation in water surfaces.

Abstract: A rotating floating platform, adapted to accommodate energy production systems, namely solar panels but not limited to these systems. The technology now developed provides rotational movement to the entire platform, on the plane of the aquatic medium where it floats, being its rotation capacity independent of fixed and rigid structures. In order to achieve this independency, the rotating floating platform comprises a central floating module connected directly or indirectly to at least two propulsion modules, where the connection to the bottom of the basin being provided through a flexible mooring unit forming a rotation floating structure where the momentum and the rotation axis act as one, thus creating a rotation platform.

Abstract: A tracking system for performing a movement control of a solar panel is provided, having a single axis solar tracking solution allowing an individual actuation of a solar panel and its respective rotation axis. The tracking system is applied in an individual solar panel, and has a local control unit, an electrical motor, a tracking actuator mechanism, a blockage unit and a tracking support mechanism, which is useful for solar power plant installations where individual panel tracking is an advantage due to site conditions such as irregular grounds or unstable locations as in aquatic sites or locations with variable slopes.