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History of Renewable Energy Development in Austria: A Journey of Commitment and Innovation


Austria boasts a remarkable journey in developing its renewable energy sector, transforming itself into a global leader. Let’s explore the key milestones and factors contributing to this success:


Early Beginnings (Pre-1970s):



  • Hydropower Pioneer: Blessed with abundant rivers and mountainous terrain, Austria embraced hydropower from the late 19th century. By the 1950s, it dominated the country’s electricity generation.


Anti-Nuclear Stance and Renewables Rise (1970s-1990s):



  • Public Rejects Nuclear: In 1978, a historic public vote overwhelmingly denied the construction of Austria’s sole nuclear plant, solidifying its commitment to renewables.

  • Diversification with Wind and Biomass: Subsequent decades saw investments in wind and biomass, with government support through feed-in tariffs and incentives.


Rapid Expansion and EU Leadership (2000s-Present):



  • Soaring Renewable Share: By 2010, Austria’s renewable share in electricity generation skyrocketed to 68%, placing it among the EU’s frontrunners.

  • Ambitious Goals and Continued Progress: With ambitious targets of 100% renewable electricity by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2040, Austria continues to invest in solar, geothermal, and other technologies.


Key Factors for Success:



  • Strong Policy Support: Long-term policies, financial incentives, and research funding from the government played a pivotal role.

  • Public Acceptance: Widespread public support for renewables fostered a conducive environment for development.

  • Favorable Geography: Natural resources like hydropower potential and wind energy corridors proved advantageous.


Challenges and Future Prospects:



  • Grid Integration: Integrating variable renewable sources like wind and solar into the grid presents a significant challenge.

  • Social Acceptance: While general support exists, specific projects might face local opposition.

  • Cost-Effectiveness: Ensuring the cost-effectiveness of renewable deployment remains crucial for continued expansion.


Despite these challenges, Austria’s commitment to innovation and public support set a strong foundation for its future. It serves as a model for other countries aiming to transition to a sustainable energy future.

Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Renewable Energy Consumption in Austria


Austria is a global leader in renewable energy consumption, boasting impressive statistics and ambitious goals. Here’s a breakdown:


Current Status:



  • Share of Renewables: As of 2022, 79% of Austria’s electricity comes from renewable sources, placing it among the top in the world.

  • Breakdown by Source:


    • Hydropower: 67% (dominant source, leveraging abundant rivers and mountainous terrain)

    • Wind Power: 19%

    • Solar Power: 14%

    • Bioenergy: 3%

    • Geothermal Energy: 1%



  • Total Renewable Energy Consumption: Over 82 Terajoules (TJ) in 2020, distributed across electricity, heating, and cooling sectors.


Goals and Targets:



  • 100% Renewable Electricity: Austria aims to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030, implying an additional 22-27 Terawatt hours (TWh) of renewable electricity generation.

  • Carbon Neutrality: The country has set an ambitious target of achieving carbon neutrality by 2040, further solidifying its commitment to sustainability.


Challenges and Opportunities:



  • Grid Integration: Integrating increasing amounts of variable renewable sources like wind and solar into the grid poses a challenge.

  • Social Acceptance: While there is general support for renewables, some specific projects may face local opposition.

  • Cost-Effectiveness: Ensuring the cost-effectiveness of renewable energy deployment will be crucial for its continued expansion.


Austria’s impressive renewable energy consumption, ambitious goals, and ongoing efforts to address challenges position it as a global leader and an inspiration for other countries seeking a sustainable energy future.

Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Renewable Energy Growth in Austria: A Story of Steady Progress and Ambitious Goals


Austria is a world leader in renewable energy growth, experiencing consistent expansion and setting ambitious targets for the future. Let’s delve into the specifics:


Recent Growth:



  • Electricity Generation: Between 2010 and 2022, the share of renewables in Austria’s electricity generation rose from 68% to 79%, representing a significant increase.

  • Installed Capacity: Wind power capacity tripled from 2014 to 2022, reaching over 3.2 GW, while solar photovoltaic capacity grew tenfold to over 3.4 GW in the same period.

  • Investment: Austria invested €4.8 billion in renewable energy in 2022, highlighting its dedication to continued growth.


Factors Driving Growth:



  • Favorable Policy Environment: Austria’s “Renewables Expansion Law” (EAG) of 2021 supports investments in solar, wind, and biomass through grants and subsidies.

  • Public Support: Public opinion in Austria strongly favors renewable energy, creating a positive environment for development.

  • Technological Advancements: Cost reductions in wind and solar power technologies have made them more competitive with fossil fuels.


Future Growth Projections:



  • Target: Austria aims to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030, requiring an additional 27 TWh of generation capacity.

  • Focus Areas: Expansion in wind and solar power is expected to play a dominant role, supplemented by growth in geothermal and biomass.

  • Challenges: Grid integration of variable renewable sources, social acceptance of specific projects, and cost-effectiveness remain key challenges to overcome.


International Recognition:



  • Austria consistently ranks among the top countries in global renewable energy rankings, including those by IRENA and the World Bank.

  • The country serves as a model for other nations aiming to transition towards a sustainable energy future.


Beyond Electricity:


While the focus is often on electricity, Austria is also expanding renewable energy use in the heating and cooling sectors, aiming for increased integration and overall decarbonization.


Austria’s remarkable renewable energy growth is a testament to its policy framework, public support, and commitment to innovation. Looking ahead, the country’s ambitious goals and ongoing efforts position it as a leader in shaping a more sustainable future.


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Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Statistic Data of Renewable Energy Patterns in Austria


Here’s a breakdown of key renewable energy statistics in Austria:


Electricity Generation:



  • Share of Renewables:


    • 2022: 79%

    • 2010: 68%

    • Breakdown by source:


      • Hydropower: 67% (dominant)

      • Wind Power: 19%

      • Solar Power: 14%

      • Bioenergy: 3%

      • Geothermal: 1%





  • Total Renewable Consumption:


    • 2020: 82 Terajoules (TJ)

    • Distributed across electricity, heating, and cooling sectors.




Growth:



  • Electricity Generation: Increase from 68% to 79% in renewable share between 2010 and 2022.

  • Installed Capacity:


    • Wind: Triplication from 2014 to 2022 (over 3.2 GW).

    • Solar PV: Tenfold growth from 2014 to 2022 (over 3.4 GW).



  • Investment: €4.8 billion in renewable energy in 2022.


Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Hydropower in Austria: A Leading Light in Renewable Energy


Hydropower dominates the renewable energy landscape in Austria, playing a crucial role in the country’s energy independence and sustainability efforts. Let’s delve into its significance:


Current Status:



  • Dominant Contributor: As of 2022, hydropower accounts for an impressive 67% of Austria’s electricity generation, making it the leading source of renewable energy.

  • Installed Capacity: Over 12 GW of installed hydropower capacity, spread across roughly 1,300 hydropower plants.

  • Type Breakdown:


    • Run-of-river: Majority type, utilizing flowing water without needing large dams.

    • Pumped storage: Provides flexibility and grid balancing capabilities.




Significance and Benefits:



  • Reliable and Baseload Power: Hydropower offers reliable and continuous electricity generation, serving as a stable baseload for the grid.

  • High Efficiency: Conversion of water potential energy into electricity boasts high efficiency, minimizing energy losses.

  • Clean and Sustainable: Generates electricity without greenhouse gas emissions or air pollution, contributing to climate change mitigation.

  • Flexibility: Pumped storage plants offer flexibility, storing excess energy during low demand periods and releasing it during high demand.


Future Outlook:



  • Continued Role: While growth might not be significant due to limited untapped potential, hydropower will likely remain the cornerstone of Austria’s renewable energy mix.

  • Modernization and Efficiency: Focus on modernization and efficiency improvements of existing plants to maximize output and sustainability.

  • Integration with Other Renewables: Integrating hydropower with other renewable sources like wind and solar for a more resilient and flexible energy system.


Challenges and Considerations:



  • Environmental Impact: Hydropower development can impact river ecosystems and biodiversity, requiring careful planning and mitigation measures.

  • Public Acceptance: New projects might face local opposition due to potential environmental and social impacts.

  • Sedimentation: Managing sedimentation buildup in reservoirs is crucial for long-term sustainability.


Hydropower is a cornerstone of Austria’s renewable energy success story. While there are challenges to address, its continued responsible development and integration with other renewables will be vital for securing a sustainable energy future.


Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Wind Energy in Austria: A Story of Steady Growth and Future Potential


While not currently as dominant as hydropower, wind energy plays a significant role in Austria’s renewable energy mix and has experienced substantial growth in recent years. Here’s a closer look:


Current Status:



  • Contribution: As of 2022, wind power accounts for 19% of Austria’s electricity generation, ranking second behind hydropower.

  • Installed Capacity: Over 3.2 GW of installed wind power capacity across approximately 800 wind turbines.

  • Growth: Triplication of installed capacity from 2014 to 2022, showcasing significant expansion.

  • Location: Wind farms primarily concentrated in eastern and northeastern regions with favorable wind conditions.


Significance and Benefits:



  • Renewable and Clean: Generates electricity without harmful emissions, contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.

  • Cost-Effective: Technology advancements have made wind power increasingly cost-competitive with fossil fuels.

  • Job Creation: Development and maintenance of wind farms create employment opportunities in rural areas.

  • Land Use: Requires less land compared to some other renewable sources like solar.


Future Outlook:



  • Ambitious Targets: Austria aims to significantly increase wind power capacity by 2030, playing a crucial role in achieving 100% renewable electricity.

  • Technological Advancements: Continued advancements in turbine technology are expected to further increase efficiency and reduce costs.

  • Offshore Potential: Exploring the potential of offshore wind farms in the Baltic Sea for additional capacity.


Challenges and Considerations:



  • Grid Integration: Integrating variable wind energy into the grid requires smart grid technologies and storage solutions.

  • Social Acceptance: Public concerns about visual impact and noise pollution from wind farms can be challenges.

  • Environmental Impact: Careful planning and mitigation measures are needed to minimize impact on wildlife and habitats.


Wind energy is a key player in Austria’s renewable energy transition. Overcoming challenges and harnessing future potential will be crucial for achieving ambitious renewable energy goals and a sustainable future.


Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Solar Energy in Austria: Key Data Points


Current Status:



  • Electricity from Renewables in 2021: 71% (leader in Europe)

  • Solar Power Capacity (end of 2022): 3.8 GW

  • Electricity from Solar Power in 2022: 4.2%

  • Market Growth CAGR (2024-2029): 17.47%


Ambitious Goals:



  • 100% Renewable Electricity by 2030: Aiming for complete transition

  • 1 Million Homes with Solar Panels by 2030: Significant expansion planned

  • Additional 11 TWh Photovoltaics Needed by 2030: Substantial increase required


Driving Forces:



  • Government Support: Feed-in tariffs, grants, tax breaks

  • Public Support: Strong preference for clean and reliable energy

  • Falling Costs: Solar panels becoming more affordable

  • Favorable Climate: Austria has ample sunshine for generation


The future of solar energy in Austria appears promising. With strong government and public support, falling costs, and a suitable climate, the country is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious goals and become a leader in solar power generation.

Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Biomass Energy in Austria: A Leading Renewable Contributor


Biomass occupies a prominent position in Austria’s renewable energy landscape, holding the title of most relevant renewable source:



  • Overall Share: 57% of total renewable energy (as of 2022)

  • Electricity Production: 6.5% (mostly through combined heat and power plants)

  • Heat Production: 30% of total heat energy mix

  • Most Popular Source for Residential Heating: 40% share in dwellings


Key Features:



  • Dominant Heat Market: Biomass primarily contributes to heat generation, accounting for 81% of its production in 2016.

  • District Heating Leader: 50% of district heating relies on biomass, with significant expansion through biomass-based plants in the past decade.

  • Growth Potential: The Austrian Biomass Association estimates the potential to nearly double biomass energy use.


Drivers of Success:



  • Established Infrastructure: Austria has a well-developed infrastructure for utilizing biomass, including numerous wood pellet boilers and biogas plants.

  • Sustainable Forestry Practices: Emphasis on responsible forest management ensures a reliable supply of wood-based biomass.

  • Supportive Policies: Government incentives like feed-in tariffs and tax breaks encourage investment in biomass technologies.


Challenges:



  • Emission Concerns: While considered renewable, biomass combustion can still generate emissions, requiring careful management to minimize environmental impact.

  • Competition with Food Production: Balancing land use between energy production and food security remains a critical consideration.

  • Cost Fluctuations: Biomass prices can be volatile, impacting project economics.


Future Outlook:


With its established infrastructure, sustainable practices, and supportive policies, biomass is expected to continue playing a vital role in Austria’s energy mix. However, addressing emission concerns, competition with food production, and cost fluctuations will be crucial for sustained and responsible growth.

Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Geothermal Energy in Austria: Tapping into Earth’s Heat


While not yet a major player in Austria’s energy landscape, geothermal energy holds potential for future growth, thanks to its:


Renewable and Sustainable Nature: Like other renewables, geothermal heat utilizes Earth’s internal heat, minimizing resource depletion and emissions.


Reliable Baseload Supply: Geothermal energy delivers continuous, dependable power, balancing intermittent sources like solar and wind.


Diverse Applications: Suitable for heating buildings, producing electricity, and supporting industrial processes.


Current Status:



  • Installed Capacity: Around 111 MW (as of 2022), primarily serving district heating networks.

  • Electricity Production: Negligible contribution to national electricity generation.

  • Heat Production: Provides heating for approximately 40,000 households and various public buildings.


Challenges:



  • Limited Geothermal Resource Potential: Geothermal potential varies across Austria, with most promising areas concentrated in Vienna Basin and Pannonian Basin.

  • High Exploration and Drilling Costs: Initial investment for accessing geothermal resources can be substantial.

  • Regulatory Uncertainty: Lack of a dedicated regulatory framework for deep geothermal projects can hinder development.


Recent Developments:



  • Vienna Geothermal Project: A joint venture formed by Wien Energie and OMV aims to develop the first deep geothermal plant in Vienna by 2026.

  • Upper Austria’s First Geothermal Greenhouse: Utilizing geothermal heat for sustainable vegetable production.

  • Growing Public and Institutional Interest: Increased awareness and support for exploring geothermal potential.


Future Outlook:


While challenges exist, growing interest and recent developments suggest potential for geothermal energy to expand in Austria. Government support, technological advancements, and successful pilot projects could unlock its potential as a valuable contributor to the country’s clean energy future.


Additional Data:



  • Geothermal Heat Pump Installations: Over 90,000 operating in Austria, contributing significantly to space heating.

  • Market Growth Potential: Experts estimate geothermal could provide up to 10% of Austria’s heat demand by 2050.


Geothermal energy in Austria is at an early stage but holds promise for future growth, contributing to a diverse and sustainable energy mix.

Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Austria: Renewable Energy Technology by Category (as of 2023)


Hydropower:



  • Type: Primarily large-scale run-of-river and pumped storage hydropower plants.

  • Installed capacity: 16.7 GW

  • Electricity generation: 60% of total, 40 TWh annually

  • Strengths: Mature technology, reliable baseload power, efficient energy storage through pumped storage.

  • Weaknesses: Limited potential for expansion, environmental concerns regarding river ecosystems.


Wind Power:



  • Type: Primarily onshore wind farms, with growing offshore potential.

  • Installed capacity: 3.7 GW

  • Electricity generation: 15% of total, 10 TWh annually

  • Strengths: Rapidly growing technology, cost-effective, good wind resource potential.

  • Weaknesses: Intermittency requires grid balancing solutions, visual impact concerns.


Solar Power:



  • Type: Mixture of rooftop photovoltaic (PV) systems and ground-mounted solar farms.

  • Installed capacity: 2.6 GW

  • Electricity generation: 10% of total, 7 TWh annually

  • Strengths: Decentralized generation, versatile applications, falling costs.

  • Weaknesses: Intermittency, limited land availability for large-scale farms.


Biomass Power:



  • Type: Primarily wood pellet combustion plants with some biogas facilities.

  • Installed capacity: 0.7 GW

  • Electricity generation: 3% of total, 2 TWh annually

  • Strengths: Domestic fuel source, dispatchable power, carbon neutrality potential.

  • Weaknesses: Emissions concerns, competition for land and forest resources.


Emerging Technologies:



  • Geothermal energy: Limited potential in Austria, but several small-scale projects exist.

  • Heat pumps: Growing popularity for residential and commercial heating.

  • District heating: Well-developed infrastructure, utilizing various renewable sources like biomass and waste heat.


Policy and incentives:



  • Strong government support through feed-in tariffs, investment grants, and tax breaks.

  • Focus on innovation and research for further development of renewable technologies.


Key Takeaways:



  • Austria is a global leader in renewable energy, with hydropower forming the backbone and wind, solar, and biomass playing increasingly important roles.

  • Diversification of technology portfolio is crucial for achieving 100% renewable electricity by 2030.

  • Balancing environmental concerns, social acceptance, and cost-effectiveness remains a challenge.


Please note: This information is a general overview. Specific details and data may vary depending on the source.


Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Largest Renewable Energy Power Plant in Austria

Unfortunately, defining “largest” in the context of renewable energy power plants in Austria can be tricky due to the different technologies involved. Each technology has its own way of measuring capacity and output, making direct comparisons a bit apples-to-oranges.


However, here are some ways to tackle your question:


Based on Installed Capacity:



  • Hydropower: The largest hydropower plant in Austria is Limberg II with an installed capacity of 1,000 MW. However, remember that hydropower often involves multiple smaller plants generating collectively, so this might not be the “biggest” in terms of physical scale.

  • Wind power: Wind farms are typically scattered across an area, making a single “largest” difficult to pinpoint. However, the Puch Wind Farm boasts the most turbines (41) with a combined capacity of 163 MW.

  • Solar power: The largest solar farm in Austria is the Vienna Airport PV Park with a capacity of 24 MW. Again, the decentralized nature of solar power makes “biggest” a complex term.

  • Biomass power: The largest biomass power plant is Dürnrohr Thermal Power Station with a capacity of 200 MW.


Based on Annual Electricity Generation:



  • Hydropower: This remains the same as above, with Limberg II generating the most electricity annually.

  • Wind power: While Puch Wind Farm has the most turbines, the Wolfsberg Wind Farm actually generates more electricity (around 230 GWh annually).

  • Solar power: While Vienna Airport PV Park has the largest capacity, the ECOwinds Grafenworth Solar PV Park generates more electricity (around 30 GWh annually).

  • Biomass power: Again, Dürnrohr Thermal Power Station remains the highest generator of electricity amongst biomass plants.


Final Thoughts:


Instead of a single “largest” plant, Austria prioritizes diversifying its renewable energy portfolio. Therefore, focusing on the strengths and weaknesses of each technology and their contribution to the bigger picture might be more relevant than identifying a single winner.


Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Top 10 Renewable Energy Companies in Austria (2024)


Defining the “top 10” in renewable energy involves various factors like revenue, installed capacity, innovation, or market share. Here are 10 notable companies leading the charge in Austria, highlighting their key areas of focus:


1. VERBUND AG:



  • Leading international electricity company, headquartered in Vienna.

  • Core business: Hydropower generation, transmission, and trading (98% of generation).

  • Operates over 120 hydropower plants across Austria, Germany, and Europe.

  • Growing portfolio of wind and solar farms.


2. Wien Energie GmbH:



  • Largest municipal energy company in Austria, supplying Vienna with various utilities.

  • Strong focus on renewables (60% electricity from biomass & waste-to-energy).

  • Operates hydropower, biomass, and wind farms.

  • Investing heavily in solar power and district heating expansion.


3. Energie Burgenland AG:



  • Main energy supplier in Burgenland, Austria.

  • Diverse renewable energy portfolio: Hydropower, wind, biomass, and solar.

  • Operates over 100 hydropower plants and several wind & solar parks.

  • Committed to achieving 100% renewable energy supply by 2030.


4. Andritz AG:



  • Global leader in pulp & paper, hydropower, and metals industries.

  • Significant role in developing and supplying hydropower equipment.

  • Offers solutions for all segments of the hydropower value chain.


5. GreenTech Cluster Styria GmbH:



  • Non-profit organization promoting green technologies in Styria, Austria.

  • Over 200 member companies in renewable energy, energy efficiency, and environmental technologies.

  • Provides networking, market intelligence, and project development support.


6. Austrian Energy Group:



  • Formed by the merger of EVN AG and VERBUND AG’s thermal power assets.

  • Operates gas-fired power plants and district heating networks in Austria.

  • Crucial role in grid stability and integrating renewable energy sources.


7. ENGIE SA:



  • French multinational energy and utility company with a presence in Austria.

  • Operates gas-fired power plants and district heating networks.

  • Invests in renewable energy projects (wind & solar) across Europe.


8. Scheuch GmbH:



  • Leading manufacturer of biomass boilers and other bioenergy technology.

  • Provides solutions for residential, commercial, and industrial applications.

  • Contributes to the growth of biomass power, a vital component of Austria’s mix.


9. SolarFocus GmbH:



  • Developer, manufacturer, and distributor of innovative solar thermal systems.

  • Offers products for domestic hot water, heating, and pool heating applications.

  • Promotes solar thermal energy, complementary to solar PV.


10. IQX Group GmbH:



  • Developer and manufacturer of microCHP (combined heat and power) systems.

  • Provides efficient and sustainable energy solutions for buildings.

  • Contributes to reducing reliance on fossil fuels and increasing energy independence.


Remember, this is not an exhaustive list. The landscape of renewable energy companies in Austria is constantly evolving. These companies represent a diverse range of technologies and approaches, all contributing to Austria’s impressive achievements in the renewable energy sector.

Renewable Energy Landscape in Austria

Future of Renewable Energy Development in Austria

Austria, already a leader in renewable energy with ambitious goals to achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030, is set for an exciting future in clean energy development. Here are some key aspects to consider:


Growth Drivers:



  • Continued political commitment: The strong national focus on renewables, reflected in policies and incentives, is expected to persist.

  • Technological advancements: Innovations in areas like energy storage, grid integration, and emerging technologies like geothermal and hydrogen will enhance potential and efficiency.

  • Public support: Growing societal awareness and demand for sustainability will likely continue to fuel public support for renewable energy projects.


Key Areas of Development:



  • Expansion of existing technologies: Hydropower will remain a vital base, while wind and solar are expected to see significant growth, including offshore wind potential.

  • Integration of diverse sources: Optimizing grid management and storage solutions will be crucial to accommodate the increasing mix of renewable sources.

  • Decentralization: Increased deployment of rooftop solar and community-based projects will empower local communities and contribute energy independence.

  • Focus on green hydrogen: Investments in hydrogen production from renewable sources are expected to gain momentum, offering energy storage and fuel options.


Challenges and Opportunities:



  • Balancing environmental and social impacts: Careful planning and stakeholder engagement are needed to mitigate potential impacts on landscapes and communities.

  • Grid infrastructure upgrades: Investments in grid modernization and expansion will be necessary to handle the increasing share of variable renewable energy.

  • Cost considerations: Continued cost reductions in renewable technologies and their efficient integration will be key to maintaining affordability.


The future of renewable energy development in Austria appears bright. With continued political will, technological advancements, and innovative approaches, Austria is well-positioned to solidify its leadership in the clean energy transition and set an example for other nations.


https://www.exaputra.com/2024/02/renewable-energy-landscape-in-austria.html

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Numbers Associated with Trump’s Incompetence Are Kept Secret

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We won’t know how much damage Trump has done to our county, its people, the world in general, until Trump leaves office.

That’s just one more good reason to make this happen soon.

https://www.2greenenergy.com/2026/07/21/numbers-associated-with-trumps-incompetence-are-kept-secret/

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You’re Being Asked to Believe the Unbelievable

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American voters are being told that progressives hate America.

This type of crap may have some level of acceptance among our least intelligent voters, but fortunately, they’re nowhere near the majority.

You’re Being Asked to Believe the Unbelievable

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Omterra Rebrand, Goldwind Warns on Turbine Size

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Weather Guard Lightning Tech

Omterra Rebrand, Goldwind Warns on Turbine Size

Siemens Gamesa rebrands as Omterra, Goldwind questions ever-bigger turbines, and MIT revisits the century-old Betz limit.

Sign up now for Uptime Tech News, our weekly newsletter on all things wind technology. This episode is sponsored by Weather Guard Lightning Tech. Learn more about Weather Guard’s StrikeTape Wind Turbine LPS retrofit. Follow the show on YouTubeLinkedin and visit Weather Guard on the web. And subscribe to Rosemary’s “Engineering with Rosie” YouTube channel here. Have a question we can answer on the show? Email us!

The Uptime Wind Energy podcast, brought to you by StrikeTape. Protecting thousands of wind turbines from lightning damage worldwide. Visit striketape.com. And now your hosts

Allen Hall: Welcome to the Uptime Wind Energy Podcast. I’m your host, Allen Hall, and I’m here with Rosemary Barnes, who is recovering from a very serious illness, Matthew Stead, who has been healthy pretty much all the Australian winter, and Yolanda Padron in sunny, hot Austin, Texas. Welcome, Rosemary

Rosemary Barnes: Thank you. I am recovering from man flu, and I say man flu because it’s just a cold, but I’m complaining a lot about it.

Allen Hall: there’s gonna be a new name for Siemens Gamesa. So it was Siemens and then Gamesa’s a separate company. They merged. Siemens Energy, uh, broke off from Siemens AG. So [00:01:00] that’s a very well-known name, Siemens. It’s– Everybody knows Siemens at this point around the world.

And the, the one family had, as a company, had s- label on everything, right? So it’s, uh, Werner von Siemens started it 150 years ago. It’s been a long time since Siemens was started, but it’s everywhere. It’s on turbines, transformers, and power plants around the world, and now they’re changing their name, right?

So when Siemens Energy broke off from Siemens AG, they, they had a limited time they could use that name, so they have rebranding themselves or are about to rebrand themselves, and I wanna pronounce this right, Omterra. O-M-T-E-R-R-A. Now, we did a little research on this, and I think it’s Latin for all of the world.

It’s kind of a conjoined, uh, set of words, Latin words, kind of a, a schmear in a sense. So, uh, so the company that, you [00:02:00] know, that spun off in w- roughly 2020, if I remember this right, Matthew, does that sound right? It was roughly 2020 when Siemens Energy was established on its own. Uh, they’re gonna be changing their name to Omterra.

So instead of seeing, seeing Siemens Gamesa publications or Siemens Gamesa wind turbines, I guess they’re gonna have this new name, Omterra. What do we all think?

Matthew Stead: I think it’s great. I think, and if you go back to, you know, GE Vernova, um, I, I thought Vernova was a bit weird for a while, but now it just rolls off the tongue and easy. It just makes so much sense. Um, so I’m, I’m, I’m for it. I, I like it. I’ve already… You know, can already say it. It took a lot longer to say Vernova than it’s taking to say

Terra.

Rosemary Barnes: I think that it– But it’s not Vernova, it’s GE Vernova, right? So everyone knows what it is. Whereas my understanding is it’s not Siemens Omtera, it’s just Omtera, which makes it sound like a new budget kind of [00:03:00] brandless, history-less, uh, company. So that’s… Yeah, I’m no

branding expert, but I think that, uh, like they, they must have not been able to use the word Siemens at all, um, because otherwise you surely would, because it has a very…

Outside of, you know, their blade issues and bearing issues of a couple of years ago, they do have a, like a solid engineering reputation across many fields, so you wouldn’t probably intentionally divorce yourself entirely from that. So, um, yeah, I, I think it will take some getting used to for me

Matthew Stead: but everyone remembers. I mean, it’s not like– The people in the wind industry know their heritage, they know their history, so I don’t think it matters. I mean, you know, you know, they, they purchase the Senvion, you know, technologies or, you know, licenses in Europe. You know, y- y- you don’t forget these things, so I don’t think it matters.

I think it’s just a, it’s a color, it’s a, it’s a label

Yolanda Padron: I think it’ll be fine. I just think that there will be a little [00:04:00] bit of confusion down the line as with everything, right? Like I’ve, I’ve been on the side of conversations where I have to explain like Siemens versus like SGRE on paper and it’s like, oh, it’s– this is why th- there was that paper trail, uh, because people would think it was an absolutely different thing.

Um, so I, I can totally see those conversations coming, coming to play in the future where someone thinks that Ontier is a completely different entity that maybe they changed OEMs or something, um, for a site. But nothing a little history lesson won’t fix, I guess.

Matthew Stead: You just want people talking about you

Rosemary Barnes: Name change every year

Allen Hall: Change your name every year. Well, that’s, that’s one way to approach it. I w- always wonder what the boardroom looks like and sounds like when this discussion is going on, because Siemens, Siemens Energy is a big company, and there had to be outsourcing of this to probably several marketing firms, mostly [00:05:00] in Germany, I’m guessing.

And they came back with a bunch of pitches, and eventually they picked one. But boardrooms are probably not the place to pick a name. And I always think like, “Oh, you just had such a opportunity to do something really cool or really impressive.”

Allen Hall: Well, we’ll see how it goes with Omterra. The, it’s gonna be, I’m sure, a huge marketing effort, and you’ll probably see commercials for it during the Super Bowl.

Developers are [00:06:00] eyeing Britain’s next big renewables auction and have been waiting to learn the rules and most importantly, the price. Well, this week the UK government delivered both. It confirmed a package of changes to the CFD scheme ahead of allocation round eight, aimed at simplifying the process and keeping good projects from being tripped up by some paperwork.

So AR7 was super successful, and they’re hopefully gonna have a, a great allocation round eight. Uh, unchanged from last round, here are some pieces to it. AR7 brought in 15 gigawatts of, of new capacity, uh, well below the ceilings, and the government is betting that that’s stability from AR7’s gonna exist for AR8, so they’re keeping the pricing limits the same.

And let me give you some of the numbers here. So everything’s in 2024 prices, just so we have a baseline here. It, 113 pounds per megawatt hour [00:07:00] for fixed bottom offshore wind, 271 pounds for floating offshore wind. That’s, uh, pounds per megawatt. And then 92 pounds per megawatt for onshore wind, and s- 75 pounds per megawatt for solar. So 271 pounds per megawatt hour in 2044 dollars is, you know, you’re probably talking, what, 290 pounds per megawatt hour. That’s a really good strike price or ceiling to allow, uh, some more floating wind into the UK waters

Rosemary Barnes: Yeah. Well, the UK have this newly signed agreement with Japan, right, to, to progress development of that technology. I feel like I, I haven’t looked up any numbers to back this up, but I feel like the gap between fixed bottom and floating is narrowing. It’s barely more than double now, which, um, yeah, I think is not that bad considering how little development there has been for floating offshore wind compared to fixed bottom.

So [00:08:00] yeah, I think that it is an interesting technology to develop. I, I know with the, um, auction rounds and ’cause it’s a government thing, it’s easy to think, “Oh, why are you spending any money on anything other than the cheapest one?” Because y- you know, like, it, it feels weird that the government would play, you know, when they’re purchasing power for their grid, that they would do any more than trying to just get, you know, bulk power at the cheapest price possible whilst ensuring, you know, reliability.

Um, but in the previous or the previous, the one– last one or the one before that, they had quite a few tidal projects announced that certainly, you know, an expensive and not mature technology. But I think that you can’t say the same thing about floating offshore wind. I think that it is on a, like a good, a good development trajectory, and there are certainly places on Earth where floating offshore is one of the most appealing technologies.

You know, if you think of through to 2030s, 2040s, there’s plenty of places where, um, you know, slightly higher [00:09:00] price paid for floating offshore wind will still be worth it because they have so few other options available. So it makes sense as an industry to in- invest in capabilities there.

Matthew Stead: think it’s a really interesting method. It seems to be really successful, the contract for di-difference approach. So, um, I’m, I’m surprised that it’s not adopted more widely, um, in other locations,

Rosemary Barnes: it is around a bit.

I would like to see it, like, in, in Australia, we are, we are developing some new wind projects, but not as fast as we need to, to, you know, hit our upcoming targets. And I think, like, while the government is doing some things to help move or help incentivize developers, it’s not working that well, and maybe CFD would be a, you know, a bit of a better way to, like, just actually guarantee that these projects are gonna go ahead.

Allen Hall: Australia has a shipping problem. there’s been a concern at state-owned transport hubs are becoming less supportive of [00:10:00] wind energy projects with ACEN Renewables saying that they will now have to truck a large transformer from a wind project or for a wind project in northern New South Wales from the Port of Adelaide.

That’s not necessarily close. And h- they also said that the Port of Brisbane has refused to accept passage of some big transformers for a solar farm. also there’s some, uh, something about blades not being able to be accepted in certain ports. Like some of the, uh, Australian state-managed or state-owned ports are not accepting renewables.

Rosemary Barnes: I think

also that blades in Queensland can only be transported to site like one per day with a full police escort or something. It’s wild to

me ’cause, you know, like I lived in, in Denmark for so long and there were blades going up and down just the normal highway every single day, multiple like, uh, and three– they would go in sets of threes for obvious reasons.

Um, yeah, but the, the, the [00:11:00] Queensland government changed like a, a year ago or, or so, and it changed to a very anti-renewables government and they just threw all of the state’s renewable plans in the bin,

Allen Hall: such a recent change that when they, at least the news articles I’ve seen about it, I’ve only seen a handful, that they have, um, like last year some big transformers, like really difficult to move items have come through those ports and they’re just not letting them through now. How does that work?

If you have a, a, a legal right to build a wind farm or a solar farm or, or substation or whatever’s going on there, how do they reconcile not allowing those components to come through a port? In what world does that make sense?

Matthew Stead: I mean, most of the ports are– yeah, most of the ports are privatized, so it’s up to the individual commercial entity that’s running the port, I would, I would imagine. So it’s beyond the control of the government, would be my first guess.

Yolanda Padron: it seems like it’s an, a federal sort of thing that would give permits.

Matthew Stead: No, I mean, I’ve done a bit of work in the Port of Melbourne and, [00:12:00] um, it’s facilitated by the government, uh, state government, not federal, and but the ports are largely privatized.

Rosemary Barnes: I just pulled up an article and it says that it’s state-owned transport hubs are becoming

less supportive of wind energy projects. Um, yeah, and that’s the reason for why they’ll have to get that transformer in northern New South Wales, so very close to Queensland. They have to go from Adelaide, where you live, Matt, all the way through South Australia, maybe Victoria, New South Wales, and then, yeah, up to nearly the border.

Allen Hall: Is that just a temporary blip that the next election cycle it’ll revert back or is this something that’s more long term?

Rosemary Barnes: uh, it’s not obvious that it’s gonna flip straight back, that’s for sure

Allen Hall: [00:13:00] for years, the race in wind has run mostly in one direction: bigger and bigger blades, bigger towers, bigger machines.

And now a chief engineer f- at one of China’s largest turbine makers says it’s time to pump the brakes. Bo Juul Petersen, uh, Goldwind’s chief engineer in Denmark, argues that scaling turbines up no longer makes economic sense. So it’s not an engineering question, it’s an economic question. His reasoning rests on a simple rule of geometry, the square cube r- law, which says that as a turbine grows, its materials and costs climb faster than the rotor area that earns the revenue.

Past a certain point, he says, bigger simply costs more than it makes. Have we crossed that threshold yet? Is 20 megawatts that, [00:14:00] uh, pivot point where it doesn’t make any more sense to make a larger turbine?

Matthew Stead: didn’t we have problems when we went from three to six?

Allen Hall: One to two.

Matthew Stead: I, I, I think, uh, I think it’s good that someone’s actually coming out and saying this

Yolanda Padron: Whoa, whoa, whoa. Rosie’s on the podcast.

Rosemary Barnes: yeah, ex-excuse me, this is one of my topics of obsession that I constantly carry on about. I made a whole, a whole video about it with, um, equations to back up my opinions about scaling, um, and a very nifty tug of war metaphor between economic factors that favor big wind turbines and economic fav- factors that favor small ones.

And I think that we’re always a little bit ahead of, of what the right, the right balance is between those. So, you know, the benefits from having bigger turbines are that, um, you have fewer electrical connections, for offshore especially, that means less subsea cables and, um, yeah, just like much faster Faster construction of all that, you [00:15:00] know, less, uh, substructures and less, less of everything to install, less of everything to maintain as well.

You know, it doesn’t take so much longer to get up and do your annual maintenance checks of a big turbine compared to a small one. Like, it takes longer, but not, not that much longer. Um, but then all of the structural factors favor smaller turbines over bigger ones. blades especially, as they get longer, you get so many more problems in O&M, but they don’t show up on the developer’s spreadsheet, you know. The spreadsheet that you’re using to decide, um, your f- your final investment decision, it, it doesn’t, it doesn’t know that you’re gonna have a whole bunch of blade issues.

It doesn’t wanna know and so I think that that’s one factor that has pushed us past the economic point of where wind turbine size should be. And I think the other thing is prestige. I know that when I worked at LM, you know, we had the longest blade in the world.

It was 88 meters, was our first, um, world record that we set while I was working there. They’d had many before that. We had– They [00:16:00] had a, like, one-to-one scale printout of it that they took to WindEurope or WindHamburg, um, that everyone stood in front of, and then they lost it to somebody, and then they got it back again with the blade for the Halieade-X.

And we all know how well that went to, you know, have the world’s longest blade. Y- you know, it wasn’t so easy to make it, turned out. It’s very easy to announce and not so easy to make, um, with reliable quality. And now we’ve got all these Chinese companies, especially MingYang, is constantly announcing the world’s biggest something.

Um, don’t sell so many of them, but it’s not the point, isn’t to sell them, it’s to have the prestige of making the world’s biggest something.

Allen Hall: Yeah, what would be the technology breakthrough that would allow it to be more stable at a 20 or 25 megawatt? Because right now I’m, I’m seeing 1% improvement here and there, not 5%, 10%.

Rosemary Barnes: Yeah, I mean, 1% improvement will eventually add up to what, what you need. Maybe it’s in

20 years’ time, not 10 years’ time. But y- you know, like you can imagine anything. maybe [00:17:00] they start somehow, like aero and automotive manufacturing technologies get cheap enough that we can start making wind turbine blades with all prepregs instead of y- you know, um, you know, dry fabric and infusion.

For example, maybe 3D printing gets cheap enough that you can make your whole, whole blade from an additive process. Like a- anything like that. But it can also be other things like maybe the cost of subsea cables in- increases like a whole lot, and then if, you know, like things on one side getting more expensive can make it more worthwhile to save hard problems somewhere else. So that’s why I say it’s like a, it’s a, a ve- it’s a multivariable optimization problem that changes every time you have a…

Like for every project to project from year to year, it’s always gonna be slightly different. So I don’t think it’s wise to definitively say 20 megawatts is the threshold that we should never cross. Like I, I don’t agree with that.

Allen Hall: It’s one of those arguments, I think, about [00:18:00] any sort of technology about where the endpoint is. There’s too many variables to predict it. I always point to aviation in which older airplanes will hang around and hang around and hang around until the fuel price goes up enough where it doesn’t make sense to operate them.

So they will fly an airplane un-until they can no longer structurally do it. But if the price of oil shoots up and the price of aviation fuel bumps up, those airplanes get parked, and then they’re buying the new airplane with a more efficient engine. It’s a similar thing, I think. There’s just– You can’t tell where the technology’s gonna go or what the economic impacts of any part of that business will force you to do something different.

So it’s gonna be higher than 20 megawatts, guarantee you that.

Yolanda Padron: Well, it’s one of those things too, right? Where if we’re repeating the, the same blade type and we’re getting smarter about operating that same blade type, then the economic cost goes down, [00:19:00] right? Like, eventually. ‘Cause then you’re not just experimenting on every new thing or having to take all of the, the funding into tr- specializing techs or getting very specialized techs onto your site and finding a new– kind of the wheel every so often. [00:20:00] So speaking of larger wind turbines, evidently we’ve been doing this all wrong, that we’ve had the calculations for the, uh, Betz limit has been off, and, uh, a group of MIT engineers, I guess, uh, have, have made a breakthrough.

Allen Hall: So basically every wind turbine that is spinning today is based on some fundamentals, uh, math, empirical data in, in some level, but on formulas that have led us to design the wind turbines and that core formula called the momentum theory. And if you hear blade designers who hang around blade designers, which I don’t necessarily recommend, but if you do hang around blade designers, they, they’ll say the momentum theory, momentum theory, like, “Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, I got it.”

It, it, the– MIT is saying it breaks down exactly at the operating point where modern turbines try to live. Um, so for a century the fix [00:21:00] was a patchwork of corrections and useful, but with no real theory behind them. Now, a team at MIT said it has rebuilt the math from first principles, creating what they call a unified momentum model. It even nudges at the famous Betz limit, the century-old ceiling on how much energy a rotor can capture, and it bumps it up by a few percentage points, and that would be the first uptick to the Betz limit in over 100 years. All right, Rosemary, as our official Betz limit expert, does this make any sense?

Have the MIT folk something new?

Rosemary Barnes: a wind turbine blade, its aerodynamics are just the same aerodynamics as what keeps an airplane in the sky, right? It’s, it’s all the… It’s just an airfoil. It’s just facing a wind speed, um, you know, a local wind speed. It’s complicated by the fact that [00:22:00] a wind turbine blade is also rotating, so the wind speed is different along the whole span, and that’s, uh– and so is the flow angle, and that’s why blades are twisted and tapered.

Um, but you know, essentially when you wanna figure out how much energy, uh, a wind turbine is gonna generate or you wanna design the blade so that it optimizes that amount, you’re just slicing it up into a whole bunch of little bits of 2D flow, exactly the same as an, an airplane. So if it doesn’t work for wind turbines, then it shouldn’t work for airplanes either.

So that’s one fundamental thing. And also at Betz limit, it’s not like it’s not driving design. It’s more like if you, if your design exceeds the Betz limit for a, um, a horizontal axis wind turbine, then you– it’s like a sanity check that you’ve done something wrong. Uh, that’s, that’s what I would say you would mostly use it for.

Um, but what I don’t understand, and maybe Alan, presumably you did read the, read the research or at least the press [00:23:00] release. Are they arguing that y- um, like the tips of a wind turbine blade are rotating, are moving fast enough that it’s approaching transonic flow? ‘

Allen Hall: Yeah, it’s a rental number thing.

Rosemary Barnes: there’s different types of aerodynamic equations depending on how fast the, airfoil’s moving.

And my understanding is transonic is like 0.8 Mach, um, 0.8, which is 274 meters a second, which is more than double what, um, the fastest tip speeds are currently. So I would think that you’re not quite approaching that yet. They’re– It’s not like a cutoff that, you know, all of a sudden at that exact, exact speed the air behaves totally differently.

But, um, y- yeah, like it seems far enough away that it’s not that relevant. But is that what they’re getting

at or, or is it something different?

Allen Hall: I like doing sanity checks when I read things from MIT. So what blade [00:24:00] manufacturers and/or wind turbine OEM has designed a set of blades and go, “Oh my gosh, we’re getting more energy than what we calculated,” and not thought to themselves, “Huh, maybe we should look into that”? It’s, it’s, it’s hilarious almost that all the engineers working in wind for 100 years wouldn’t have stumbled across this, where the turbine produces more power than the Betz limit would say it would.

Y-

Rosemary Barnes: yeah, as many people have commented on, you know, any one of my YouTube videos about wind turbine aerodynamics, if they would just put more blades in there, then, you know, less wind would just fly through without ever being, um, y- without ever hitting a blade.

So, you know, like obviously wind turbine, uh, blade aerodynamics people are stupid because if they weren’t, then they would see that you just put more blades in and you get more, twice as many blades, twice as much energy and w- What about three times as many blades? Three times as much energy.

And I [00:25:00] didn’t even go to MIT and that’s just, you know, like just

brilliant

Allen Hall: Obvious

Rosemary Barnes: off the top of my head here.

Allen Hall: it’s sort of ludicrous, honestly, and I see these things in wind occasionally. I see it more often in other areas, particularly aerospace, where, where you just have to go, “What are we spending time on?

Really? We’re working on this? On a fraction of a percentage point that we may have a slight error in?” Like, it does not matter. What are you gonna do with that?

Rosemary Barnes: there’s two issues. One is that the person writing up the press release is not the person that did the research, and they will always blow it up to be much more groundbreaking than the engineers who actually worked on it probably think it is.

So, the, like, I think you have to, like, reserve your criticism of the work and try and criticize the press release. And then the second error that I commonly see is that people don’t have an un- good understanding of a status quo. So they think that they have smashed the status quo, but really it’s more to do with them not understanding the status quo than it is through [00:26:00] some legitimate, like, massive im- improvement.

So it could well be that this is all very good and correct work, just with limited practical implication. That would be my most expected, um, from this.

Allen Hall: Rosemary, how many times a month do you get queries about wind turbine improvements that are just physically impossible?

Rosemary Barnes: Oh, I mean, if I read all of the comments on my YouTube channel, then probably quite, quite frequently. But, um, yeah, the most common one is just people thinking you can just add more blades and get a proportional increase in, um, in energy, you won’t get more power from adding more blades if that’s the only thing that you do, because in a well-designed wind turbine, which modern ones are, every, e- every air molecule that goes through the rotor disc is gonna interact with the, um, with, with a blade.

That’s how it’s, it’s designed. The blades are moving really fast, and so every molecule doesn’t get hit, but, you know, every, every molecule is affected and has some energy extracted from it. Um, then the other thing is people [00:27:00]who think if you reduce drag, like if you can come up with a lower drag airfoil or a higher lift airfoil, then you think, they think that that relates to more energy proportionally.

So they’re like, “Oh, this airfoil has twice as much lift, so it’s gonna be twice as much power.” It’s like, actually, you know, wind turbine designers are aware of the full range of, you know, airfoils that are available, including high lift ones, and they’re not using it because, you know, the same reason the airplane wings aren’t just, you know, like the highest, highest lift airfoil.

Y- you know, it’s more of a lift to drag ratio type thing, and that’s true for wind turbine blades as well, but also there’s structural considerations probably more so in a wind turbine blade than there are in, um, in airplane wings. So, you know, there’s some sacrifices made for that. Um, yeah, but those are the two, two main families of, of mistakes that I’d say people make.

Allen Hall: So

Rosemary Barnes: Matt

Allen Hall: up to his hand up for

to MIT media representatives

Matthew Stead: uh,

I had a couple of sort of quick and simple points. The first of all, uh, I’m actually a graduate of [00:28:00] MIT. I’ve graduated from, uh, from a course at MIT. Um, so that’s the first thing. Um, not in engineering. Um, the next one is like, so what? I mean, we can’t even reliably measure, um, you know, AEP the other one is all models are wrong.

Yolanda Padron: But not just wind

Matthew Stead: the world is not perfect. All models are wrong, so trying to improve something that’s wrong, you know, might help a little bit, but does it really matter?

Rosemary Barnes: But it is also the job of academics to improve these models. So there’s nothing wrong with MIT spending a lot of energy to, um, you know, improve on an incorrect model with another incorrect model. Uh, if it’s more useful, that’s great, and even if it’s not, like isn’t that the job of

Matthew Stead: yeah.

Matthew Stead: you should add to where it has the most impact on humanity. You should actually put the effort into areas that have a greater impact on pushing the boundary. You know, pushing small boundaries does not help the world

Allen Hall: Matthew is an MIT graduate, [00:29:00] the one thing that Matthew brings to the table is real-world experience. And that if you shelter yourself inside a laboratory at MIT, and I understand why you would do that, because I’m sure it’s a very pleasant place to work, and there’s a lot of benefits to that.

However, the way that MIT used to work back in the day, and not everything was roses then, but oh, okay, y- that people had industry experience. They had a knowledge of what was going on on the ground, and they were engineers, and they realized that formulas and reality don’t always align. And maybe we lost that somewhere in the ’80s and, or ’90s, but it does continue to be a problem, where back to Matthew’s point, if you’re going to use that amount of brain energy, put it to something that can help the world.

This isn’t necessarily helping the world That wraps up another episode of the Uptime: Wind Energy podcast. If today’s discussion sparked any questions or ideas, and I’m sure that it will, we’d love to hear from [00:30:00] you. Reach out to us on LinkedIn, and don’t forget to subscribe so you never miss an episode.

So for Yolonda, Rosemary, and Matthew, I’m Allen Hall, and we’ll see you here next week on the Uptime: Wind Energy podcast.

Omterra Rebrand, Goldwind Warns on Turbine Size

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