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Issue 1 | 2016 The Nordex/AWP Review – Wind. Energy. Power.
Upbeat mood in the United States
N131/3300 installed
Sustainability strategy
Nordex and Acciona Windpower are now one company An interview with the CEO and COO
Imprint
Publisher: Nordex SE, Langenhorner Chaussee 600, 22419 Hamburg, Germany
Phone: +49 (0)40 300 301 000 Email: [email protected]
Project management and responsible party under German press law: Sandra Jaekel
Authors in this issue: Silke Brandes (SBR), Sandra Jaekel (SJA), Susanne Schumann (SSC), Irmela Tölke (ITO)
Photo credits: Nordex unless otherwise noted
Design: Orange Cube Werbeagentur GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
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Top Topic12 | Together, on the same course Nordex and Acciona Windpower are now one company
Merger“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts,” said Aristotle, and I believe that this is a good description of our situation following the merger with Acciona Windpower. As a result, we have grown, gained new colleagues, market shares and revenues – and all this will only strengthen us as a com-pany in the long term. We have taken the step that was necessary to shore up our business on a sustainable basis, but what we have gained in addition to this is also important: we complement each other in our strengths, experi-ence and expertise.
We must take advantage of this gain over and above the pure key business figures as it gives us the opportunity to develop together into one of the biggest and best manufacturers of wind turbines in the world. In this way, we are combining the strengths of both companies in order to provide effi-cient solutions that, as far as possible, cater for the needs of our customers. Because ultimately we will be judged on the profitability of our turbines and projects. So with this merger we have taken a major step towards our key aim of complete customer satisfaction. Let’s begin!
Yours,
Lars Bondo Krogsgaard,CEO Nordex SE
Together, on the same course12
Inside 4 | Lots of happy memories A look back at the anniversary roadshow
5 | Helping to shape EuropeThe Nordex Group has taken on a leading role within WindEurope
6 | A boost to the light-wind sectorThe N131/3300 builds upon a successful tradition
8 | Sustainability continues to gain in importanceStrategy, goals and challenges
10 | A leader in smart servicesUniversity of St Gallen bestows Successful Practice Award
Outside20 | Upbeat mood in the United States PTC extension lends optimism to wind sector
24 | Sustainable success in Germany2015 was a record year for Nordex
26 | Two new projects for the N100/3300 Eneco and Nordex power ahead in the strong-wind sector
6 N131/3300
Knowledge30 | Technical LexiconPart 6: Anti-icing
31 | The world’s windsPart 3: Chinook
20 Upbeat mood in the United States
Early December saw the anniversary parties start to wind down with a sizzling celebration in Montevideo, Uruguay. Nordex re-served a ranch in the heart of the city with plenty of space for ap-proximately 90 guests. And the space did not go unused – spurred on and led by a group of performers, many of the guests took to the dancefloor. We witnessed the tango, milonga and malambo – all of the Latin American dances made an appearance. Parties attended by companies in Helsinki, Finland and Warsaw, Poland were slightly less energetic but just as easy-going. After enjoying the fresh air on a boat ride, the guests at the event in Finland had dinner in an atmospheric vaulted cellar, while in Poland attendees marvelled at the views over Warsaw from the Palace of Culture and Science and were dazzled by a stunning light show.
The roadshow finale took place in Istanbul, Turkey. Despite having to postpone this event at the last minute due to a terrorist attack in October, we welcomed a surprisingly high number of around 240 guests. “The fact that so many customers turned out for the event just goes to show the extent of their appreciation for us,”says Ibrahim Oezarslan, Managing Director for Turkey. And so the celebrations came to a close in Istanbul, to a soundtrack of singing and the melodies of an electric violinist. They are sure to live on in the memories of all those who were there. Text: SSC
Lots of happy memories: a look back at the anniversary roadshowFrom elegant events to fun frolics, tradition-al soirées to modern parties, and festivities that took place anywhere from down by the shore to high above the rooftops – the 30-year anniversary celebrations that Nordex hosted in 2015 to thank its customers were a massive hit. The local flavour of the events ensured their popularity with the guests, whilst at the same time, highlighting what makes each region special.
4 | INSIDE SALES
“This year, the European Commission set the course for new guidelines on renewable energy, in the form of the Renew able Energy Directive (RED II),” explains Tony Adam, Manager of Public Affairs. “We expect an intense debate about the high-ly-regulated market. Lead sponsorship gives us a collective stake in shaping WindEurope, while at the same time laying the groundwork for us to put forward our ideas about the Euro-pean energy market of the future, and to help shape it with our customers in mind.”
The Directive will set out the framework for the delivery of re-newable energy between 2020 and 2030. As such, it will work in conjunction with regulation for the common energy market, with a direct impact on the renewable energy market environ-ment in Europe. As Tony Adam says, “Ultimately, this is also about optimal market integration for renewable energy. With its technological dynamism, the European wind industry’s role as a model for the rest of the world should not be underesti-mated. By working together, we can really bring this quality to bear.” Text: SBR
Helping to shape EuropeThe Nordex Group has taken on a leading role within WindEurope. By serving as its lead sponsor, the company is consciously assuming greater responsibility in the pursuit of a common European energy market. This approach will ultimately pay off for customers, too.
“We are delighted that European manu facturer Nordex is playing a role in shaping the European energy market of the future. Together with the other leading players in Europe’s wind sector, we are driving forward the debate in an effective and determined way, with a view to taking the Renewable Energy Directive and the market design dossier in an optimal direction.” Giles Dickson, CEO WindEurope
What is WindEurope?
WindEurope, which until April was known as EWEA (European Wind Energy Association), is the association for wind energy in Europe. It represents the European wind energy sector in Europe and worldwide. With 500 members in over 60 countries, WindEurope is the largest network of its kind in the world, and thus an im-portant voice among those advocating a world based on sustainable energy with an emphasis on wind energy.
Calendar2016
Windpower 2016, New Orleans 23– 26 May 2016
Group interim report for 1st half of year 2016 Analysts’ conference call 28 July 2016
Brazil Windpower, Rio 30 August–1 September 2016
WindEnergy Hamburg 2016 27–30 September 2016
Capital Markets Day, Hamburg 28 September 2016
Annual General Meeting (AGM), Rostock 10 May 2016
Voss Energy GmbH was the first customer to opt for the N131/3300. Originally, the company planned to install six N131/3000 turbines at its Krampfer wind farm in Brandenburg. But when Nordex launched its more powerful light-wind turbine in September 2015, the Rostock-based project developer soon prepared the way for the new turbine to make its debut.
Photos: Matthias Viertel,
Ove Arscholl
A boost to the light-wind sector: the N131/3300 builds upon a successful tradition
6 | INSIDE PRODUCT MANAGEMENT
A quiet giant
“Getting the approval for the N131/3000 carried across to the N131/3300 was made all the easier due to the fact that we complied with the maximum sound levels,” explains Nils Lehming, Product Man-ager at Nordex. Just like the N131/3000, the guaran-teed sound power level for the 3.3-megawatt version is 104.5 A-weighted decibels. As such, it is one of the quietest turbines in its category on the market. “We are currently implementing a number of different projects in collaboration with Nordex,” says Kathrin Traxel, Managing Director of Voss Energy. “Our asso-ciation with Nordex goes back many years, and we are delighted to have found a local partner within the business that manufactures its products in Rostock and offers a wide product range. As Nordex could deliver the N131/3300 earlier than the turbine that had originally been planned, we made the switch.” In late 2015, Nordex obtained type certification for the 3.3-megawatt version. The manufacturer has de veloped this turbine specifically for the German market, with 134-metre and 164-metre towers. Both versions have already been type-certified.
The first N131/3300 at the Krampfer site, at 134 metres high, was installed in December 2015. “The turbine feeds constant power into the system. Considering that we are still carrying out some tests on it, the power curve has remained very good,” says Peter Voß, Project Manager at Voss Energy. With its rated output, which is 10 percent higher than that of the N131/3000, the German turbine can generate a yield improve-ment of up to 6 percent, depending on the location. “The turbine has met all of our expectations, from its rapid launch to its performance when it is in regular operation,” says Claus Tjarks, Prototyping Project Manager at Nordex.
Building upon the strengths of its predecessor
As a variation on the N131/3000, the German turbine continues a successful tradition: after the Delta Gen-eration turbine was named “Best Turbine of the Year” in 2014 by the trade magazine Windpower Monthly, it was still ranked second in 2015. “We have trans-ferred the features that made our Gamma Generation turbines so successful across to our Delta Generation turbines and developed them further. So it’s no sur-prise that we’re seeing good results in this respect,” says Nils Lehming. The system upon which the N131/3000 was based has received a further distinc-tion, too: in 2015, Windpower Monthly awarded the N117/2400 the bronze prize in the category for tur-bines up to 2.9 megawatts. This means that, a whole two years after becoming the leader in this category, this turbine is still amongst the best on the market.
In addition to the sound power level, the power curve of the N131/3000 has now been fully confirmed. Nordex is awaiting international type certification for the turbine around the middle of this year. Survey-ing of the N131/3300 is underway, and the turbines at the Krampfer site will soon have company near-by as Nordex is also to supply the Uckley wind farm in Brandenburg, which will feature ten N131/3300 turbines. Text: SSC
Observing the
“launch”of the first
N131/3300 off the
production line:
Martina Löffler,
Axel Melcher,
Günter Steininger,
Nils Lehming (all from
Nordex); Kathrin
Traxel (Voss Energy),
Claus Tjarks
(Nordex), Peter Voß
(Voss Energy)
INSIDE PRODUCT MANAGEMENT | 7
Since late 2015, Nordex has pursued its own sustainability strategy, and its latest annual report contains a detailed section on this topic for the very first time. Nordex/AWP 360° spoke to Angelika Bauschke, Head of Sustainability Management, about the company’s current strategy and the goals and challenges in this field.
Sustainability continues to gain in importance
Angelika Bauschke,
Head of Sustainability
Management, presents
Nordex’s successes,
tasks and goals in
sustainability-related
areas in the current
annual report.
Why is sustainability an important issue for Nordex?
As a listed company, we are obliged to report on our sustainability, but aspects of sustainability are also playing an increasingly important role in the allocation and funding of projects. What’s more, sustainability is a value-driver. Our efforts and transparency in this area also help to build confidence amongst stakeholders. Nordex therefore sees sustainability as an opportunity and aims to remain an attractive business partner going forward.
What is your understanding of sustainability?
Sustainability encompasses all areas of life – environ-ment, economy, people – and each company has to define and address the aspects that are crucial in its own case.
How has Nordex gone about identifying these aspects and developing its strategy?
This was an inclusive process, involving all of the key areas of the company. Overall, we identified around 100 relevant issues, which we pared back to the es-sentials and then worked into a specific strategy.
Could you describe this strategy for us briefly?
Our strategy is summed up by the slogan “Harness-ing wind intelligently – living sustainability”. This covers the three key areas of people, environment and economy, and addresses a total of eight sus-tainability issues, for which we have defined specific targets and indicators.
What are Nordex’s objectives for the “people” area?
Along with recruitment and employee development , we are placing particular emphasis on health and safety in the workplace. In order to review our work safety measures, Nordex is examining lost time injury frequency (LTIF, accident-related absences for every 1,000 employees) and, as part of its sustainability strategy, has set itself the target of achieving an LTIF of under 5 by 2018. Furthermore, the corporate culture plays a major part in this area. As such, Nordex at-taches great importance to ensuring that it remains an attractive employer and will continue to demonstrate its social commitment within its target markets.
Does Nordex also have specific environmental goals? Environmental aspects need to be taken into ac-count in all life-cycle phases of a wind turbine. This begins in the development phase and continues through the procurement, production, operational and
Photo: Christiane Koch
8 | INSIDE SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT
The Nordex sustainability strategy at a glance
Health and Safety
LTIF < 5
Corporate culture
High employer attractiveness
Engagement in at least one social project in each focus market
Environmental footprint
Improvement of the environmental balance of wind turbines
Reduction of energy use and waste per wind turbine produced
Decomposition and recycling
85% recyclability of wind turbines
Environmental behaviour
100% of purchased power for Nordex consumption from renewable energy
Cost of energy
–18%
Sustainable product development
Marketspecific product development in Nordex target markets
Supply chain
Integration of sustain ability requirements into the procurement process
Cost of energy
Environmental footprint
Decomposition and recycling
Health and Safety
Corporate culture
Environmental behaviour
Sustainable product development
Supply chain
further processing phases. We aim to improve the en vironmental record of our facilities. For instance, this will involve reducing the energy consumption and waste produced for each turbine. At the same time, Nordex wants to reach 85 percent recyclability for its turbines by 2018, and to ensure that 100 per-cent of power provided by third parties comes from renewable sources.
And what are Nordex’s economic sustainability objectives?
We have set ourselves three main goals in this area: first, Nordex aims to reduce its electricity gener-ation costs (LCOE, levelised cost of energy) in 2018 by 18 percent compared to the figures for 2015; this means that we are looking to reduce the costs of each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated. Second, we will continue to develop our turbines with the specific requirements of our target markets in mind and carry our environmental sustainability requirements and social standards across to our subcontractors and suppliers.
How will you achieve these goals in practice?
Our approach allows for the gradual achievement of objectives in all areas and at all locations. Our vision is to live sustainability together with our suppliers and service providers. This is a process that will grow over years. Text: ITO
PEOPLE ENVIRONMENT ECONOMY
Photo: Douglas Barnes
INSIDE SUSTAINABILITY MANAGEMENT | 9
A leader in smart servicesTogether with four other companies, in late 2015 Nordex was granted the “Successful Practice Award for Excellence in Smart Services” by the Institute of Technology Management at the University of St Gallen. This award recognises not only the range of products currently offered by the prize winners, but also gives fresh impetus to additional customer-oriented services.
Thomas Zedler (first
left) accepts the
Remote Services prize
on behalf of Nordex
Energy, alongside
Hartmut Armbrust
(John Deere), Stefan
Rauscher (Kärcher)
and Adrian Staufer
(Schindler).
After they were awarded the prize, the five companies took part in a benchmarking exercise that involved vi sits to each other’s facilities. As part of this process, they exchanged experiences in the field of smart ser-vices and gave each other insights into their product development. “This part of the award is particularly valuable because it allows us to ensure a cross-indus-try transfer of knowledge that extends beyond the duration of the study,” says Thomas Zedler, Head of Remote Services.
Learning from and alongside the best
The participants can also continue to learn from one another in the future through cooperative dialogue, jointly-clarify related issues and develop new applica-tions. Thomas Zedler explains that “It is exciting to see how other industries solve their own problems. We are really inspired by this collaboration, and I am sure that we will be able to make use of it to develop new services and products for our customers.”
Photos:
University of St Gallen
10 | INSIDE SERVICE
The winners were delighted
with this trophy.
Setting cross-industry standards
The University of St Gallen contacted more than 1,000 companies in order to carry out this bench-marking study on the theme of “the future success of smart services”. Thomas Zedler took part in the online questionnaire on behalf of Nordex, as did 142 other companies. After the data had been analysed, the Institute of Technology Management chose 11 candidates who demonstrated the highest level of achievement in the smart services area. Through de-tailed telephone interviews, the Institute selected the five companies whose smart services applications were the most advanced. “To be chosen alongside major industrial companies like John Deere, Kärcher, Schindler and Heidelberger Druckmaschinen was not only a huge honour, but also an important recogni-tion of our development work,” says Thomas Zedler. “This prize shows that we are setting cross-industry standards with our range of products in the areas of data analysis and networking, as well as proactive applications.” Text: ITO
What are Smart Services?
“Smart Services” are information and service-based products, such as mobile applications, online portals or sharing services. They are based on the growing intelligence of machines and the ongoing digitisation of work processes. Company-specific and outside supply chains are connected via the Internet.(Source: Fraunhofer IAO)
“This part of the award is particularly valuable because it allows us to ensure a cross-industry transfer of knowledge that extends beyond the duration of the study.”Thomas Zedler, Head of Remote Services
The employees from
Nordex Remote Service
have round-the-clock
turbine data.
Photo: Dominic Fraser
INSIDE SERVICE | 11
Photos: Christian Fraembs,
Christiane Koch, Ulrich Mertens
12 | TOP TOPIC TOGETHER ON THE SAME COURSE
Since 1 April 2016, it has been a done deal – Nordex and Acciona Windpower (AWP) have joined forces. The two companies are now one and are following the same aim: to become a front runner in the wind industry in order to supply their customers with first-class projects and the most cost-effective power plants possible. Nordex/AWP 360° interviews CEO, Lars Bondo Krogsgaard (LBK) and COO, José Luis Blanco (JLB).
Together, on the same course – Nordex and Acciona Windpower are now one company
TOP TOPIC TOGETHER ON THE SAME COURSE | 13
The Spanish and Germans are said to have very different mentalities. How did things work out when staff first met each other?
JLB: We had a very open and friendly atmosphere straight away and my impression is that this is the case across the company. One thing learned during the first meetings is that staff from the two company headquarters in Pamplona and Hamburg both con-sider themselves “northerners” and so are similar in a number of ways which are probably not typical for the rest of the two countries.
LBK: Agreed! If I had to put together a football team made up of German and Spanish players, I would say that both can play elegantly with short passes. It’s a good idea to look at what you have in common. Of course, we’re not football teams but part of an inter-national group that has many different nationalities under its roof, so our day-to-day business already en-tails plenty of intercultural exchange.
What do you expect from the merger in terms of business?
LBK: We will be stronger as a result of pooling our strengths. This step will shore up our business for the long term. The wind energy sector is still relatively young and so very much in a state of flux. As we get bigger we will become less dependent on the demand from individual markets and will be better able to com-pensate for fluctuations. And this is in our interest, but also in the interest of our customers, business part-ners and employees.
JLB: On top of this, an increase in our combined order receipts will ensure that the capacity of our factories is used to the maximum. We see this merger as one milestone on the way to a long-term leading global pos ition in the industry as it opens up further growth potential for us.
In other words, it’s primarily about growth? What is the target for growth?
LBK: We definitely have to get bigger, stronger and more sustainable. We will improve the profitability of our company and we are planning to increase sales by up to EUR 4.5 billion. This will give us financial secur ity and maximum flexibility. Then again, for our customers this means that their investment is safer. This is important as they conclude a contract for a project with a term of 20 years. However, in terms of growth, we are aiming at much more than exploiting synergistic benefits, for example when it comes to procurement or cross-selling and far beyond cost-sav-ing – we must take advantage of the opportu nities! The two companies are an ideal match. If we can suc-ceed in combining the best of both sides, this will take us a long way (cf. fig. r.).
“We will be stronger as a result of pooling our strengths. This step will shore up our business for the long term. The wind energy sector is still relatively young and so very much in a state of flux.”Lars Bondo Krogsgaard, CEO Nordex SE
14 | TOP TOPIC TOGETHER ON THE SAME COURSE
A STRONGER AND MORE COMPETITIVE COMPANY
Nordex and Acciona Windpower complement each other perfectly
MARKETFOCUS
+
= = = =
+ + +
COSTUMERFOCUS
PRODUCTFOCUS
TECHNOLOGYFOCUS
TRULY GLOBAL
BROAD CUSTOMER BASE
DIVERSEPROJECTS
COMPLEMENTARY TECHNOLOGIES
ACCIONAWINDPOWER
NORDEX
Acciona Windpower has extensive experience in
implementing large-scale projects.
Emerging and growth markets
Utilities/IPPs Projects withoutland constraints
Complex and land-constrainedprojects
Small and medium-sized
Europe Blades
Concrete towers
TOP TOPIC TOGETHER ON THE SAME COURSE | 15
In what way do the two companies match? Can you give us an example?
LBK: Let’s take a look at the markets: until now, Nordex generated 80 percent of its revenue in Europe, while AWP focused on emerging markets. We will merge our markets in Europe with the growth markets in Africa, Asia and the Americas. Together we will tar-get 80 percent of the world market, excluding China. AWP has wide-ranging experience in implementing particularly large projects, while Nordex has done es-pecially well in challenging locations. Together we will be able to offer solutions for the entire spectrum of geographical conditions.
Up to now, one of Nordex’ special strengths has been its individual approach to customers. Won’t your growth plans come into conflict with this?
JLB: The customer is our main focus and that will re-main the case. We will be able to meet a much broader spectrum of customer requirements – from small and medium-sized projects to those with power suppliers.
Two companies, one vision
We are one company. At our heart: six core
values that we believe in.
01 We believe in affordable,
sustainable energy.
As a company, we want to offer the
lowest cost of energy possible to
our customers.
02 We put the customer front and centre.
By staying close and listening to our
customers’ feedback, we offer the best
possible service.
03 We think globally.
Because scale yields opportunity,
we aim to become one of the
biggest manufacturers of wind
turbines worldwide.
04 We want to be transparent.
As we believe in processes and systems
as drivers of efficiency, quality and
safety, we try to make our business as
comprehensible as possible.
05 We take responsibility for what we do.
Our projects have an impact on many
people. That’s why we act in an ethical
manner, and high ethical standards
are paramount.
06 We are who we hire.
That’s why we value a supportive
company culture and try as hard as
possible to be an attractive employer for
both current and new employees.
By doing what we believe in, our employees,
our customers and society as a whole will
benefit from our efforts.
16 | TOP TOPIC TOGETHER ON THE SAME COURSE
But with our pooled specialist knowledge, in future we will be able to gear solutions even more closely to the different needs of our customers. We want to react flexibly to the individual wishes of our customers and accommodate them as far as possible. We ensure we can do this thanks to our regional structure, in which our staff can be close enough to the customer to deal with their specific needs.
What will be the future product strategy? Which turbines will you offer?
JLB: The two companies are also a good match in terms of products. Although this question comes a lit-tle early – we’ve only just been given the green light for the merger – the following is already clear: we will take a very close look at what the market wants, adapt our product portfolio accordingly and develop it in such a way that we are able to offer the most economical turbines possible. What is important is making effec-tive use of the strengths of both companies. Our pri-mary objective is still to reduce the cost of energy, as this will make it possible for our customers to increase their returns.
Nordex unlocks even challenging locations such as forest
or industrial sites.
TOP TOPIC TOGETHER ON THE SAME COURSE | 17
Founding of Nordex in Denmark
Installation of the 1,000th Nordex turbine
Commencement of industrial rotor blade production
First AW 60/1300 prototype
Opening of the wind turbine assembly plant in Barásoain, Spain
Start of the series production of the AW 1500
First company worldwide to produce a MWclass turbine
Completion of the world’s first series multiMW turbine
Installation of the 2,000th Nordex turbine
1985
2000 2003 2005
1995 1999 20012000 2003
Opening of the first turbine facility in the Americas
Introduction of the AW 3000
Launch of GammaGeneration
2007 2008
2010
Two histories, one future
How far can you reduce the costs of energy in the medium term and how do you plan to achieve this?
JLB: For years now both companies have been work-ing on reducing the costs of energy production. Com-bining our expertise, amongst others, in terms of rotor blade and tower technology, will make our customers’ projects even more profitable. For example, on-site production of the concrete tower reduces transport costs – plus, no maintenance is required for these. We
“For years now both companies have been working on reducing the costs of energy production. Combining our expertise, amongst others, in terms of rotor blade and tower technology, will make our customers’ projects even more profitable.” José Luis Blanco, COO Nordex SE
18 | TOP TOPIC TOGETHER ON THE SAME COURSE
Key figures for Nordex and Acciona Windpower
NORDEX- More than 3,300 employees- More than 7,000 wind turbine generators (13.1 GW) installed in over 40 countries - Up to EUR 2.3 billion in revenue (2015e)- Headquarters: Hamburg (Germany), Manufacturing facilities: Germany
ACCIONA WINDPOWER- Approx. 1,400 employees- More than 3,200 wind turbine generators (5.5 GW) installed in more than 18 countries- Approx. EUR 1 billion in revenue (2015e)- Headquarters: Pamplona (Spain), Manufac- turing facilities: Spain, Brazil, India, USA
Launch of DeltaGeneration
Industrial implementation in Brazil with the opening of hub production plant
More than 2,000 MW sold of the AW 3000 platform
Nordex and Acciona Windpower become one company
2013 2014
2013
2016
The new Chief Sales
Officer, Patxi Landa
can develop lighter, longer and, thus, more efficient blades by using carbon. These will, in turn, reduce the costs of energy due to the increased yield. But of course, there are many more factors to be con sidered. We are aiming at decreasing energy production costs by 18 percent over the next three years, and we are convinced that we will attain this ambitious target.
What changes will there be in the company structure and areas of responsibility? Will our customers have new contact persons?
LBK: Here too, we have tried to combine the best of both companies. The Management Board comprises members from AWP and Nordex. Our new company will manage its business through nine regions with the head of each reporting to the Management Board. Strong regions are important for us because this is where we make contact with our customers. We still have a great deal of work to do in order to perfect the organisation. Here we can count on many experienced managers at Nordex and AWP. But for our customers, nothing will change and their contact persons will re-main the same.
What are the next steps for the merged company Nordex/AWP?
LBK: In May, the Supervisory Board will be elected at the AGM and will include our new main shareholder,
then we shall be properly set up there too. After that the main task will be the transformation into a new company and we are well on the way to this. My thanks go to the many colleagues who have been working constructively on the project for weeks now – on top of their day-to-day work. Text: SJA
TOP TOPIC TOGETHER ON THE SAME COURSE | 19
Upbeat mood in the United States: PTC extension lends optimism to wind sectorAt the end of last year, the US administration again gave the green light for more growth in the wind industry. The extension of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) enables operators of wind farms to plan on a more dependable basis for a further three years. “We are very pleased about the government’s deci-sion. The entire sector will benefit from this – and as our products are a good match for the market, we see the PTC extension as a major opportunity for us,” says Enrique Teruel, Nordex Regional Managing Director North America.
Photos: Douglas Barnes
20 | OUTSIDE USA
At the Thunder Spirit wind farm in
North Dakota, 43 N100/2500 turbines
produce clean electricity.
OUTSIDE USA | 21
A market incentive scheme that works
The PTC is a federal bonus for wind farms on top of the fixed feed-in proceeds. Together with the Invest-ment Tax Credit (ITC), it is a regulatory instrument for making regenerative energies competitive, vis-à-vis coal and gas, and thus promotes the growth of renew-able energy technologies. The PTC was introduced by the administration under George H. W. Bush in 1992. Since then, various administrations have extended or amended it, mostly for periods of between two and four years.
This incentive system has fulfilled its purpose in many respects: over the past 25 years, installed wind power output in the US has increased from just 1,600 megawatts to today’s almost 75,000 megawatts. This makes the United States the largest wind mar-ket in the world after China. “In such a vast country as North America, the natural potential for wind en-ergy is huge; both in the West and East coast re-gions, as well as in the partially sparsely-populated interior. If the right economic incentives are given, a lot of clean electricity can be produced here,” says Enrique Teruel.
According to the latest law passed by the govern-ment, the incentive now amounts to a benchmark of 2.3 cents per kilowatt-hour (ct/kWh). This amount ap-plies to projects where construction (on- or off-site)
is to commence this year. For wind farms starting construction in the course of the coming three years through to 2019, the credit is reduced by 20 percent per annum (see figure). Based on the rules of the program, this will allow for the incentive to be cap-tured in some way, at least up until 2021, and may provide a nice bridge to the implementation of the Clean Power Plan (a program to reduce carbon emis-sions from power plants) which is anticipated to take effect in 2022.
The US wants to cover
more than a third of its
power consumption
with wind energy by
2050. The PTC exten-
sion helps achieve this
objective.
PTC incentives up to 2019
START OF CONSTRUCTION OR SUPPLY
2.3 ¢ 1.84 ¢ 1.38 ¢ 0.92 ¢
2016 2017 2018 2019 P
ROD
UCT
ION
IN C
T/KW
H
Source: www.awea.org
22 | OUTSIDE USA
New opportunities for high towers and large rotors
With the clear policy direction in the US, it is now eas-ier for project developers to plan for the use of the latest technologies. Currently, there are longer lead times for obtaining permits for projects that have tip heights above 150 metres, but with a longer planning runway and certainty around policy, there is more time to accommodate this possibility. This will lead to pos-sible opportunities for the high towers and large rotors.
Due to the merger with Acciona Windpower, Nordex now offers concrete-next-to-steel towers and a 132-metre rotor in addition to the 131-metre rotor. Thus, the manufacturer is well equipped even for certain lower-wind projects in previously untapped regions of the country such as the south-east. “Comb-ing the product portfolios from the two respective companies will lead to more possible options given the diverse site conditions present in the US market,” says Enrique Teruel. Together the companies now have a share of around 7 percent of the US market.
It is not possible to say how the administration will decide on the PTC after 2019. What is evident is that the global trend in recent years towards a sustainable and climate-friendly policy has also reached the United States. As an example of this, in 2008 the Bush admin-istration announced its intention to increase the share of wind energy in overall electricity consumption from 4 percent at the time to 20 percent by 2030. Barack Obama added a further growth target of 35 percent by 2050.
“If it is necessary to extend the incentive system, the government will do so in order to meet these targets. Nevertheless, we see this credit merely as a support. In the long term, we want to reduce our energy pro-duction costs to such an extent that we can compete with other forms of energy without incentives,” says Enrique Teruel. Decreasing the COE has always been one of Nordex’ most important goals and is a major part of the company’s DNA. Text: SSC
The Thunder Spirit wind farmPlanning the Thunder Spirit wind farm provided a good example of the major drawback of the PTC: its short half-life. As each time governments only approve its extension for a period of two to four years, there are occasionally periods of uncertainty or even gaps. For example, the PTC suddenly expired on 31 December 2013.
This was the same time when the project developer, Wind Works Power Corporation, was planning the Thunder Spirit wind farm, the implementation of which was later taken over by the American company Allete Clean Energy. This wind farm is located in North Dakota and consists of 43 N100/2500 turbines. Building work on the project be-gan in November 2014, so in the planning phase, it was not certain whether the farm would benefit from the PTC.
In order to make sure that the operator of the wind farm, Montana-Dakota Utilities, would obtain this subsidy, Nordex delivered and stored some components early (“safe harbouring”) as then the project was deemed to have commenced. This in turn was only possible thanks to highly-individualised logistics planning in the course of which Nordex coordinated transport from different stor-age points, some of them situated far apart.
“In the case of Thunder Spirit, Nordex showed that it was flexible and could be depended on. This is exactly what we expect of manufacturers whose turbines we buy,” said Dr Ingo Stuckmann, CEO of Wind Works Power Corpor-ation. The 107.5-megawatt wind farm has been in operation since the beginning of the year and supplies electricity to some 31,000 households in the region. Text: SSC
“In the long term, we want to reduce our energy production costs to such an extent that we can compete with other forms of energy without incentives.” Enrique Teruel, Nordex Regional Managing Director North America
Sustainable success in GermanyFor Nordex in Germany, 2015 was a record year. Compared to the previous year, onshore installed capacity rose by 6 percent to 437 mega-watts and the market share was just under 12 percent (2014: 8.7 percent). Nordex/AWP 360° explores what’s behind these achievements and explains why 2016 will see even more success.
24 | OUTSIDE GERMANY
The good market position can mainly be attributed to the so-phisticated product range for light-wind locations. In Bavaria, for example, Nordex achieved a share of 50 percent through the erection of 80 N117/2400 turbines. Siegbert Pump, Head of Sales in Germany, says: “The N117/2400 generates very good yields even at IEC 3 sites with a specific area coverage of 223 W/m2. This success was our impetus to introduce a further optimised light-wind turbine, the N131/3300, on the German market at the end of 2015. Since the amount of orders we re-ceived in the transition to 2016 has risen further, we expect this year to see an even greater increase in our installed capacity than in the comparable time frame from 2014/2015.”
The customer is king
Other factors also contribute to Nordex’s success, one such ex-ample being the significant role played by Project Management’s team effort. “Our task is to stay customer-focused and operate on a project-by-project basis, and we take our job very seriously,” em-phasises Eike Schmidt, Head of Project Management in Germany. “The customer is king. So we respond to our customers with flexibility and individual solutions, and we have no problem seeing
through smaller projects or even just installing individual turbines. We always look for – and find – the best solution.” This claim also applies to the current amendment to the German renewable en-ergy act. Nordex has continually anticipated the long-planned and much-discussed tender design and prepared itself for any con-ceivable scenario. “Today’s outlook is very positive, and we firmly believe that we will achieve our aim of having a share of 45 per-cent of renewables in the electricity sector by 2025,” says Tony Adam, Manager of Public Affairs, Corporate Communications.
Technical options
The development of technical options is also a decisive factor for success in Germany. Take this current example: Nordex has been working with a specialist company to develop a solution for need-based aviation obstruction lighting – that is, lighting that only switches on when a plane approaches. The solution is expected to be ready for series production in Q4 of 2016. “These devices increase acceptance by nearby residents and meet regulatory re-quirements. We expect to see a clear advantage when it comes to building permission in future,” says Florian Kraus, Product Manager for this technical option. Text: SBR
Designing the future: Nordex supports NEW 4.0 model testNordex is taking part in NEW 4.0, the “Northern German Energy Transition”. The project initiative involving about 50 part-ners from the areas of economy, science and politics aims to use the model region of Hamburg/Schleswig-Holstein (con-sumer/generator) to show that renewable energy sources – optimised to match consumption – can cover the whole of Germany’s demand for electricity by 2050. The project is being funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy as “Smart Energy Showcases – Wind”. NEW 4.0 starts in November 2016. Preparations for the four-year running time are in full swing not just at Nordex, which is supplying tur-bines that are incorporated in decisive project processes. Topics such as load management, and temporary accumu-lators as well as efficient information and communication technol ogy are also being addressed in order to coordinate on-site consumption of energy.
www.new4-0.de
The share of renewable energies in mixed power is steadily increasing. While expansion objectives for 2025 may be exceeded, expansion is expected to lag behind objectives from 2030.
Sources: Prognos/EWI/GWS 2014
Share of renewables in gross electricity consumption in Germany
20502040203020252020
20%
40%
60%
80%
Photo: Ulrich Mertens
OUTSIDE GERMANY | 25
Two new projects for the N100/3300:
Eneco and Nordex power ahead in the strong-wind sectorDelfzijl-Noord in the Netherlands and Moy in Scotland are two Eneco wind farms with Nordex Delta turbines that went on grid last winter. Today they are producing clean energy – but installation of the two projects presented some challenges.
Photos: Ulrich Mertens,
Robert Ayres
26 | OUTSIDE NETHERLANDS AND GREAT BRITAIN
Seafarers can see them in the distance before their charts can tell them that land is in sight: 14 wind turbines lined up like a string of pearls appear to rise directly from the sea. Together with five more turbines that form a kind of pentagon at the end of the row, they make up the Delfzijl-Noord wind farm, a strong-wind project operated by the power sup-plier Eneco. What makes this wind farm special? The turbines stand on the Schermdijk dyke off the Dutch coast on the Ems estuary.
Surrounded by water
Delfzijl is the second wind farm Nordex has installed on a dyke but the first coastal project to extend into the sea on a 5-metre-wide causeway. “In terms of wind conditions, such sites are very attractive – but they involve some special challenges for construction work,” says Dayne Coxon, the Nordex Project Manag-er. As the turbines are completely surrounded by wa-ter, the team coordinated construction work with the tides and storms. 14 turbines are not positioned on the dyke itself, but on a very narrow 4-kilometre-long break water off the coast. “Due to the narrowness of
The Delfzijl-Noord wind farm
required precision work during
its erection on a dyke along the
Dutch coast.
OUTSIDE NETHERLANDS AND GREAT BRITAIN | 27
the site we had very little space for storage and had to rely on the components being delivered exactly on time. This was challenging for planning and coordi-nation,” explains Dayne Coxon. While the first Nordex dyke project, Kreekrak, consisted of 31 smaller N100/2500 turbines on 80-metre towers, in the case of Delfzijl, the manufacturer supplied its larger Delta turbine on 100-metre towers – a premiere in the Netherlands.
Sustainable and flexible
As with the Dutch premiere, the N100/3300 debut in Scotland was also an Eneco project. Last year the manufacturer supplied 20 turbines of this type for the Moy wind farm. “We have been working with Nordex for a long time. Our decision to use them in Great Brit-ain is based on the good turbines that Nordex offers,” says an employee from Eneco. For Moy, Nordex worked with a transport solution that was both effi-cient and environmentally friendly. The turbine parts were shipped to Scotland in 14 separate trips via the port of Inverness. Two hundred heavy transports
brought them to the site – just 25 kilometres to the south of the city. “We used Inverness as the delivery point for this project for the first time in order to keep road transport to a minimum,” says Dayne Coxon. The result was minimal CO² emissions.
Like Delfzijl-Noord, the Scottish site presented some challenges. The wind farm is located on moorlands and the turbines are lined up in three rows. A river winds its way between the turbines, with a depth of 10 metres at some points. Four bridges had to be built to provide access to the individual turbines. Furthermore, due to the soft ground, Nordex was only able to hoist one whole rotor. For the other 19 turbines the manufacturer installed the blades indi-vidually – exactly as done in Delfzijl – which involves more work in the air and takes longer to erect.
Immediately on site
The Delfzijl-Noord wind farm’s own service point is right next to the site. “We have a perfect view of the turbines from our station. If necessary we can be on the turbine in minutes,” says Dennis Kamps, Lead Technician Service Operations in Delfzijl. As the nearest service point for Delfzijl is in Oostvoorne, some three hours away by car, for this wind farm Nordex has opened its own branch and taken on sev-eral new service technicians. “The region offers good wind conditions and more projects are being planned. Perhaps there will be even more projects for us here in the future,” says Dennis Kamps. Concerning the turbines’ output, the service technicians are happy: in the first three months since grid connection in December 2015, the turbines’ average availability was above 97 percent. Text: SSC
Highlanders: these turbines in the north of Scotland sit peacefully
on rather difficult terrain and are still waiting for a grid connection
after installation.
OUR REGIONAL TIP!
Loch NessAbout 10 kilometres from Inverness lies the most famous lake in Scotland, Loch Ness (“loch” is Scottish Gaelic for “lake”). Originating from a narrow glacial valley that existed in the Ice Age, the loch is 37 kilometres long and only about 1.5 kilometres wide. At its deepest point, Loch Ness measures 230 metres, making it the largest loch in Scotland by volume.
It became famous from the legend of Nessie, the Loch Ness monster, who is said to live in the loch and has drawn in tourists to the area for years. Those who wish to get to the bottom of the stories and theories surrounding this mysterious monster can investigate it at the Nessie Centre in Drumnadrochit. Urquhart Castle offers an especially beau-tiful view over the loch. One of the oldest and largest castles in Scotland with an eventful history, it sits at a splendid point directly at the water’s edge. Those wishing to explore Loch Ness by boat should ideally set off from Inverness.
Sources: www.wikipedia.org; www.schottland-guide.com
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OUTSIDE NETHERLANDS AND GREAT BRITAIN | 29
Technical Lexicon
Part 6: Anti-icingIn the technical lexicon section, Nordex/AWP 360° explains the key components of the wind turbines. The Nordex anti-icing system does not actually form part of the basic equipment, but is becoming an increasingly popular option.
30 | KNOWLEDGE TECHNICAL LEXICON
The world’s winds, part 3:
Chinook
When it was set up in 2011, Cedar Creek 2, with its 60 N90/2500 turbines, was the largest Nordex wind farm in the world. It is situated in the north-west of the state of Colorado, USA, in the district of Weld. Kenneth Jaffe, Senior Wind & Site Engineer, Nordex USA: “The wind farm is directly affected by the chinook weather phe-nomenon and had to be especially designed for this climate. In winter, the chinook can raise temperatures from –20 degrees Celsius to +10 degrees Celsius and more within a very short time. A snow cover of 20 centi-metres can melt or evaporate within a few hours.”
The chinook can be compared with the foehn in the northern Alps, but is even drier and warmer. Humid air moves in from the Pacific and falls as rain or snow on the western side of the Rocky Mountains. The air, now warmed up and dry, reaches the eastern side of the mountain chain as a gusty, warm downwind. Kenneth Jaffe comments: “So wind speeds of up to 25 metres per second are possible at the Cedar Creek pro-ject. Local winds from the canyons can even reach more than 50 metres per second at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, for example in Boulder and Golden, Colorado.”
In the 1988 Winter Olympics in Calgary, the chinook pro-duced a spectacular effect: temperatures rose by 42 de-grees Celsius in just five hours, melting all the snow. The IOC would have done better to consult the Chinook Native Americans before selecting the site for the games, as the wind is named after them and they know that when the chinook comes, the ice on the rivers cracks.
The third part of this series “The world’s winds” is about chinooks. The North American wind gets its name from the Chinook Native Americans.
–12°C
Chinook
Chinook wall cloud
Strong wind
Heat added
Moisture lost
Altid
ude
(km
)
18°C0
1
2
3
4
5
10°C
Warm,dry
The anti-icing system is essentially a rotor blade heat-ing system that was first developed by Nordex for Gamma Generation facilities, and is now available for the N117/3000 and the N131/3000. But it’s much more than that: it is based on an intelligent concept that really sets the company apart from the competition. What makes it particularly special is that the system does not only turn on once ice has already formed on the blade – it prevents ice from forming altogether.
Targeted application
For this purpose, the anti-icing system comprises not only heating pads, which are already used in the pro-duction of the blades themselves and positioned under the surface of each blade, but also features highly responsive sensors. Among other functions, these gather data about outside conditions and promptly register when ice is threatening to form. They report this to the anti-icing controls via the Nordex Control management system software. In turn, the controls activate the heating elements located on the leading edge of each rotor blade, in the very area that is critical for aerodynamic performance. They warm this area to above zero degrees, so that ice cannot form.
Of course, ice can still form in spots where there are no heating elements, but this has a negligible effect on the turbine’s yield and is therefore deemed accept-able within an overall cost-benefit analysis.
A clear track record
The anti-icing system is particularly worthwhile in cold regions. If ice forms on the blade, it may create ad-ditional loads that could lead to the rotor becoming unbalanced and the turbine shutting down. The aero-dynamics can also be affected, which means a loss of yield for customers. At its test site in northern Swe-den, Nordex compared the yields of a turbine that used an anti-icing solution with one that did not. In the 2011 year of operation, the yield of the turbine with anti-icing was approximately 8 percent higher, and even 25 percent higher during the coldest months.
Further development underway
Experience from more than 400 megawatts of in-stalled systems shows that the anti-icing system is very robust. Nordex is now continuing to develop this solution based on its knowledge about certain Delta Generation turbine types. The next in car-nation of Nordex anti-icing systems should see the optimisation of sensors and operating modes in particular. Text: SBR
TOGETHER ON THE SAME
COURSEAs Nordex and Acciona Windpower merge, we emerge as one of the largest global suppliers of the wind industry.
We share the same vision: Consequently lowering the cost of energy while offering the best and most reliable customer service.
Because we are closer to the wind – and closer to you.
NOR_Anzeige_2016_210x297_Windkraft_Journal_GB.indd 1 01.03.16 14:59
