RENEWED AMBITION

The future of renewable energy is bright. With this, comes new opportunities for the fastener industry...

According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), renewable capacity will meet 35% of global power generation by 2025. In fact, the agency’s recent Electricity Market Report 2023 predicts that by this deadline renewable energy sources such as solar and wind power, together with nuclear, will on average meet more than 90% of the increase in global energy demand.

With the world’s electricity demand now expected to rise by 3% per year during this time, it is more crucial than ever that countries and governments look to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels in sectors like heating and transportation. As the share of coal and gas­fired generation falls in line with renewables playing a larger role in the worldwide power generation mix, industrial CO2 emissions are also expected to plateau and then eventually decrease.

At present, though, both the supply and demand of electricity is becoming more and more affected by the climate crisis, throwing a stark light on the need for action sooner rather than later. The IEA warns: “The impact of weather events on electricity demand will intensify due to the increased electrification of heating, while the share of weather­dependent renewables will continue to grow in the generation mix. In such a world, increasing the flexibility of power systems while ensuring security of supply and resilience will be crucial.”

Turbulent weather conditions are not the only significant factor affecting global energy supply, with conflicts such as the recent war in Ukraine throwing the topic of national energy dependency into the spotlight. Going forwards, green technologies could play a significant role in helping nations to become more energy independent.

”INCREASING THE FLEXIBILITY OF POWER SYSTEMS WHILE ENSURING SECURITY OF SUPPLY AND RESILIENCE WILL BE CRUCIAL.“

Joining up renewable power

As outlined by Europa, renewable energy sources include wind power, solar power, hydro power, tidal power, geothermal energy, ambient heat captured by heat pumps, biofuels and the renewable part of waste. Fasteners play a key role in each of these technologies, from holding together huge wind turbine towers to securing solar panels to building roofs.

Naturally, these critical applications require specialty fasteners, materials and coatings to withstand the many issues the power generation industry faces, particularly regarding strength, temperature and corrosion. Wind turbines, for example, are continually getting larger, and as a result extra demands are being placed on the fasteners and materials needed to secure them.

Coatings, meanwhile, must ensure that the fasteners and fixings used in such applications are able to withstand the surrounding environmental conditions into which they are placed. With extreme weather becoming more common as a result of the climate crisis, the durability and corrosion resistance of such fasteners will be paramount.

Opportunities ahead

As the renewable energy sector continues to ramp up in terms of size and capacity, and in turn demand more from its equipment and machinery, there will be challenges in strength, quality control and fault detection for fasteners and fixings. With challenge comes opportunity, though, and for those that get their products right the potential in this growing market is huge. This in­depth feature on renewable energy highlights some of the companies that are already innovating in this space, while offering insight into the vital fasteners and tools currently holding together the sector.

HEICO-LOCK®

Wedge Locking Systems

HEICO-TEC®

Tensioning Systems

Easy, fast and reliable assembly of large bolted joints