ENERCON Magazine for wind energy Issue 02 | 2008 WINDBLATT www.enercon.de

FRUGES WIND FARM Wind energy securing the future of a French canton Page 6

INTERNATIONAL Wind farm at Norwegian fjords: New roads to Bessakerfjellet Page 10

ENERCON AT FAIRS Hanover Fair 2008: Forum for wind energy on land Page 12

SUPPLIER HegerGuss: 5,000 tons of cast iron per year for wind energy Page 14

ENERGY POLICY Brisk winds from Brussels Page 16 INTERNATIONAL SALES OFFICES Page 3 Editorial ENERCON GMBH, INTERNATIONAL DEPT. Otto-Lilienthal-Str. 25 · 28199 Bremen · Phone +49 421 2441 520 · Fax +49 421 2441539 e-mail: [email protected] ENERCON News AUSTRIA Page 4 News from the ENERCON world ENERCON Austria Ges.mbH · Hauptstrasse 19 2120 Wolkersdorf · AUSTRIA · Phone +43 2245 82828 Fax +43 2245 82838 · e-mail: [email protected] Title Story BENELUX ENERCON Benelux BV · Paxtonstraat 1 a Page 6 Wind energy securing the future of a 8013 RP Zwolle · THE NETHERLANDS Phone +31 38 4228 282 · Fax +31 38 4228 010 French canton e-mail: [email protected]

BRAZIL Wobben Windpower Ltda. Technology Av. Fernando Stecca nº 100 · Distrito Industrial CEP 18087450 Sorocaba · São Paulo · BRAZIL Phone +55 15 2101 1700 · Fax +55 15 2101 1701 Page 8 Single blade installation: Tried and e-mail: [email protected] tested technique for forest sites CANADA Michael Weidemann · ENERCON GmbH International Sales Department Oesterweg 9 · 59469 Ense · GERMANY International Phone +49 2938 9720 17 · Fax +49 2938 9720 49 e-mail: [email protected] Page 10 Wind farm at Norwegian fjords: New DENMARK roads to Bessakerfjellet ENERCON Denmark Bredkær Parkvej 62 · 8250 Egaa · DENMARK Phone +45 87 430 388 · Fax +45 87 430 344 e-mail: [email protected] Page 11 E-82 in /: ENERCON GmbH bureau français Bumper crop of wind in the Rhône 1, rue des Longues Raies · ZAC des Longues Raies F-60610 La Croix Saint Ouen · France valley Phone +33 3 44 83 67 20 · Fax + 33 3 44 83 67 29

GREECE ENERCON Hellas S.A. ENERCON at Fairs 20, Pentelis Avenue · 15235 Vrilissia, Athens · GREECE Phone +30 210 6838 490 · Fax +30 210 6838 489 Page 12 Hanover Fair 2008: Forum for wind e-mail: [email protected] energy on land INDIA ENERCON India Ltd. Kolsite House, Plot No. 31 · Shah Industrial Estate Veera Desai Road, Andheri (West) Supplier Mumbai 400 053 · INDIA Phone +91 22 569 248 48 · Fax +91 22 267 300 85 e-mail: [email protected] Page 14 HegerGuss: 5,000 tons of cast iron

ITALY per year for wind energy ENERCON ADDRESSES ENERCON Italia Via Luciano Manara, 5 00044 Frascati (Roma) · ITALY Phone + 39 06 94 01 69 1 · Fax + 39 06 94 01 69 299 Energy Policy e-mail: [email protected] Page 16 Brisk winds from Brussels NEW ZEALAND ENERCON GmbH Andrea von Lindeiner · PO Box 340206 Birkenhead · Auckland 0746 · New Zealand Events and Addresses Phone +64 (0)9 4199 231 · GER +49 4941 976 959-147 e-mail: [email protected] Page 2 ENERCON Addresses PORTUGAL Page 15 Info-Service ENERCON Portugal c/o Gellweiler S.A. · Rua Vitor Cordon, 37-4° Dt° 1200-481 Lisboa · PORTUGAL Phone +351 21 340 71 65 · Fax +351 21 340 71 69 e-mail: [email protected]

SPAIN ENERCON Spain S.A. València Parc Tecnològic, Av. Juan de la Cierva, 27 Imprint 46980 Paterna (València) · SPAIN Publisher: ENERCON GmbH · Dreekamp 5 · 26605 Aurich · Germany Phone +34 961 366 461 · Fax +34 961 366 469 e-mail: [email protected] Phone +49 4941 927-0 · Fax +49 4941 927-109 · www.enercon.de/en/_home.htm SWEDEN Editorial office: Volker Uphoff, Ruth Brand ENERCON Energy Converter AB Printed by: Steinbacher Druck GmbH, Osnabrück, Germany Stenåldersgatan 19 21376 Malmö · SWEDEN Copyright: All photos, illustrations, texts, images, graphic representations, insofar as this is not expressly stated to the Phone +46 40 143 580 · Fax +46 40 222 420 e-mail: [email protected] contrary, are the property of ENERCON GmbH and may not be reproduced, changed, transmitted or used otherwise without

TURKEY the prior written consent of ENERCON GmbH. ENERCON Servis Ltd. Sti. Frequency: The WINDBLATT appears every three months and is regularly included in the “new energy”, magazine for renewa- Bagdat Cad. No 187 A Blok daire 5 Selamicesme Kadikoy ble energies, of the German Windenergy Association. Istanbul · TURKEY Subscribe: Phone +49 4941 976-667 or www.enercon.de/en/_home.htm. Phone +90 216 3854 715 · Fax +90 216 3606 492 e-mail: [email protected] Cover photo: Tractor at Fruges wind farm (Pas des /France) by Paul Langrock EDITORIAL WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 3

Dear Readers,

In windy regions all over the world, wind energy is developing into an ever more attractive option. This is not only due to the fact that wind energy is climate friendly but also because, in the meantime, technology in this sector has become highly efficient. One excellent example is the Canadian province of Québec where ENERCON will be supplying wind turbines. The pro- vincial utility, Hydro Québec, has calculated that a kWh of electricity produced in any one of the 15 huge wind farms awarded in a recent call for tender, would only cost 0.087 CAD. Added to that would be 1.3 cents for grid expansion and an another estimated half cent per kWh to cover grid management costs, says Hydro Québec. With these costs included, wind po- wer at 6.8 eurocents/kWh (price converted from CAD) is “highly competitive”.

Not every country is blessed with as much wind as the province on the St. Laurence River, though. Still in other parts of the world, given the current rise in prices for fossil fuels, electri- city derived from on-shore wind turbines will eventually be cheaper than fossil fuel energy. In Germany, the German WindEnergy Association estimates that by 2013, at the latest, prices for wind energy will drop below the price of electricity produced using coal.

Owing to a number of contributing factors, wind energy has made tremendous progress in terms of profitability in less than twenty years. One of these factors is a highly efficient system with fixed purchase prices for renewable energy, which with a few variations has been adop- ted by most European countries. Furthermore, this fixed purchase price model can be easily adapted to meet market changes. On a long-term basis, it provides investment security and plays a decisive role in contributing to setting up a productive renewable energy industry in a country. In turn, this means secure employment and an increase in regional economic power.

Discussions on the new European Union guideline for renewable energies are currently ente- ring the next round. Parliamentarians and members of the European Commission would be wise to take another close look at how efficient the power purchase model has been, as the draft discussed so far threatens to impose a combination of certificate trading and quota system (specified minimum share of electricity derived from renewable energy sources) upon Europe – even though development figures indicate that this type of system is ineffective.

Yours sincerely

Aloys Wobben Managing Director ENERCON GmbH 4 WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 NEWS

ENERCON customers awarded tender sentative responsible for Canada. “Our partici- announced the winners of the bid. “In Québec, for 1050 MW wind energy in Québec pation in the bid was met with tremendous the wind blows strongest when the demand is In the call for tender issued by Hydro Québec, support from our partners and wind farm de- highest – that is in winter.” The average cost ENERCON, in cooperation with seven custo- velopers out of Québec and other provinces.” per kilowatt hour was quoted at 10.5 Canadi- mers, was awarded the contract to supply According to Weidemann, this support and the an cents which, according to Vandal, is “a wind energy converters for an aggregate of company’s ranking as international leader in highly competitive cost for wind power”. 1050 MW in the Canadian francophone pro- state-of-the-art wind energy technology, vince of Québec. The provincial utility, ranked backed by their long-term service and mainte- One of Hydro Québec’s stipulations for awar- number four worldwide, issued a solicitation nance contracts, greatly impressed Hydro ding the projects was that at least 30 % of the for tender for approximately 2000 MW wind Québec in their decision in favour of the value-added from turbine production accrue energy at the end of October 2005. ENERCON turbines. in the Gaspé or Matane regions and a total of 60 % of the costs for wind farm construction At the beginning of May, Hydro Québec an- Besides establishing its Canadian headquar- be spent in the province. Québec’s Premier, nounced the names of 15 projects selected ters near Montreal, ENERCON intends to set Jean Charest, called the development “the lar- amongst the up concrete tower manufacturing facilities gest tender for wind-powered energy ever 66 bids re- and an E-module assembly plant in Matane. In awarded in a single block in North America”. ceived. Out preparation for the first phase of construction

Belgium: Groundbreaking ceremony for E-126 wind farm in Estinnes Québec Ste. Anne- Mid-May, André Antoine, the Walloon Minster Canada des-Monts Québec Gaspé for Infrastructure and Transport, performed the Matane Vents du symbolic groundbreaking for the E-126 wind Kempt New Richmond farm in Estinnes (approx. 30 km west of Char- Ste. Luce Bonaventure ce River Rimouski Prince leroi). Also present were Étienne Quenon, Le Plateau Edward Isl. Mayor of the community, Johan Vos and Jaap- St. LawrenRivière-du-Lupe Jan Ferweda, Managing Directors of wind farm New planners – WindVision, Leuven, as well as Seigneurie de Beaupré 2/3 Brunswick Bernhard Fink, ENERCON representative in

Québec Montmagny charge of sales in Belgium.

De l’Érable If everything runs according to plan, a total of Nova Trois-Rivières 11 of the world’s most powerful wind turbines Des Moulins Scotia will be in service near the 7000-resident Wal- USA loon community by the end of 2009. Just north Montréal St. Rémi of the municipality of Estinnes-au-Mont, the Cornwall St. Valentin designated area for the wind farm (nearly three kilometres by three kilometres) is situa- Locations of wind farms with ENERCON turbines resulting from the Quebec tender (signets, names in italic). ted on a plateau with excellent wind potential. According to planners – WindVision, the farm of the 15 farms, ENERCON so far will be sup- beginning 2011, ENERCON expects to create is expected to reach an annual yield of 187 plying turbines for ten, corresponding to 200 jobs in sales, engineering, administration, GWh, a capacity to provide some 50,000 hou- 1050 MW. The projects will be dispersed production, and service. seholds with electrical power. throughout the southeast of the province on both sides of the St. Laurence River. The first Currently, Hydro Québec draws 96 percent of Minister Antoine was pleased. He said that he farm deliveries are to come on stream in its electricity from hydropower. However, to di- is proud, delighted and enthusiastic about the 2011, and the last in 2014. versify its energy sources the utility hopes to project. “With this wind farm alone, Wallonia have added 10 percent wind power to its will be very close to reaching its self-defined “ENERCON is looking forward to establishing energy mix by the year 2015. “Wind and wa- objectives for the expansion of renewable its Canadian headquarters, two production si- ter make up a ‘dream team’ for electricity pro- energies by 2010.” Renewables are intended tes and a Service Centre in Québec”, says duction”, said Hydro Québec’s president and to cover 9 % of electricity needs and 12 % of Michael Weidemann, ENERCON sales repre- chief executive officer Thierry Vandal when he heat requirements by that time. NEWS WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 5

market leader for Currently, 71% of Costa Rica’s electricity sup- exceptional loads ply is derived from hydropower. “Due to low

Picture: Capelle and logistics part- water levels, though, Costa Rica experienced a ner, e.g. to Airbus. national blackout in April 2007 and electricity In Port la Nouvelle, has been consistently rationed ever since”, ex- ENERCON set up a plains Hoch. In the dry period between Decem- new Service stati- ber and May, the wind is especially strong, on responsible for meaning that the wind farms can run at full ca- the maintenance pacity, while hypropower plants are only able of the wind farm in to function at part-load. Because of Costa Ri- Villesèque. ca’s many volcanoes, geothermal energy also plays an important role. Together with wind Sites in the Lan- energy, this valuable source of renewable guedoc-Roussillon energy is an excellent complement to hydropo- are popular with wer. “Despite the growing demand for energy, Tower transport along cypresses and cedars in the Languedoc-Roussillon. the wind energy Costa Rica has the potential of remaining inde- industry for a rea- pendent of oil and gas imports”, says Hoch. Transporting towers on the winding son: The Tramontane, a cold fall wind belon- roads of the Corbières ging to the northern Föhn system, and the This May saw the completion of 24 new wind Mistral, a strong north-westerly wind that Transponder and radar systems can energy converters after a 14-week construc- picks up speed as it is funnelled through the safely reduce WEC obstruction lighting tion phase in Villesèque-des-Corbières near Pyrenees and the Alps, sweep the plateau. In May, the German Federal Foundation for the Narbonne (Southeastern France). The French Says Voss: “These are simply excellent condi- Environment presented the results of the company EDF Energies Nouvelles is the ope- tions for wind farms.” HiWUS project aimed at developing an ob- rator of most of these E-70/2.3 MW turbines. struction light design to minimise light emissi- Jean-Marc Bouchet, EDF Energies Nouvelles’ ons from wind farms and WECs. According to project manager for the project in Villesèque- Construction underway at wind farm the study, a flight movement detection system des-Corbières since 2003 and now manager “La Gloria” in Costa Rica could reduce the need for obstruction lights to of his own project engineering firm, also ENERCON and its project partners have laun- the time in which flying objects are actually purchased two of the turbines. ched construction of the “La Gloria” wind farm approaching wind farms. In tests carried out (49.5 MW) in Costa Rica. “So far, 20 foundati- at the Federal Police Flying Squadron North Villesèque-des-Corbières is one out of six new ons have been completed, and access roads airfield near Hamburg, the transponder sy- ENERCON wind farm projects in France. The and crane platforms are already in place for stem was able to detect all flying objects with turbines of type E-70 have a hub height of installation”, reports Gordon Hoch, ENERCON activated transponders within the vicinity of 57 metres. They are situated on a rocky pla- sales representative in charge of the project the wind farm in the course of one day. teau previously used as a test track (for exam- planned by Mainz-based company – Juwi. ple for the Dakar Rally). Average wind speed at This was the result of a comparison made with the site is 8.5 m/s at hub height, correspon- ENERCON will be shipping a total of 55 wind data collected by German air traffic control ding to IEC wind class I. energy converters (WEC) to the harbour of authorities. Using a multi-antenna configurati- Caldera. Blades and nacelles will be arriving on implanted on the periphery of wind farms, From the Mediterranean port of Port la Nouvel- from Wobben Windpower in Brazil and further aircraft can also be detected from a safe di- le, the components had to be transported components will be dispatched from the Ger- stance with primary radar (active radar). Here, 30 kilometres over the winding roads of the man overseas port of Emden. “The first half of however, further research is still necessary. Corbières, a mountainous region in the Lan- the wind farm is scheduled to be installed in “Introducing compulsory transponders for de- guedoc-Roussillon – which was a logistical 2008”, states Hoch. Although the WECs will fined air space can reduce the need for ob- challenge. “In some places, we had to cut only be installed on 45m steel towers, fore- struction lights – and increase air traffic secu- clearings into the mountain sides and widen casts indicate that the plants in Guanacaste rity itself”, says Andreas Düser, who presented roads to avoid difficult manoeuvres”, says are expected to produce a yield of 240 million ENERCON’s contribution to the project. “Now Heike Voss from the Sales team of ENERCON kWh per year. Juwi has calculated a capacity it’s up to politics to make legal provisions to France in La Croix Saint Ouen. But all these factor of approx. 55 %, i.e. the E-44/900 kw implement transponder and primary radar sy- difficulties were overcome with the help of turbines in Guanacaste are expected to run stems to minimise the use of obstruction Vézénobres-based Transports Capelle, French over roughly 4800 hours at full load. lights without impacting air traffic safety.” Sunset at Fruges wind farm, Picture: Ostwind/H. Grabe Fruges wind farm Wind energy securing the future of a French canton Construction at the Fruges wind farm in the French Département, of the ‘giant wind mills’ in the surrounding Pas-de-Calais, is entering the final phase. 40 out of 70 wind turbines area. With a massive joint effort they hope have already been connected to the grid with the remaining schedu- to have layed the grounds for a better world led to be hooked up by the end of the year. The success of this pro- for our children and grandchildren.” ject has largely due been to the efforts of Jean-Jacques Hilmoine, Hilmoine is not alone in his quest, though. Mayor of Fruges, and the Regensburg-basesd project planner The Regensburg-based Ostwind Group has Ostwind. In this region marked by mining, wind energy is opening up been at his side since 2002. The group was an opportunity for change. Additional tax revenue from the farm is in- contracted by 23 communities to realise tended to be used not only to finance a new industrial estate but also their plans for the wind farm. “I knew that for child care facilities, a youth centre and a home for senior citizens. we could count on these partners”, says Hilmoine appreciatively. Mayor, Jean-Jaques Hilmoine (62) used to has worked out well this far. Fifteen to be worried about the canton’s future. More twenty local jobs have already been created Passages for migratory birds and more young people are moving away in direct connection with the construction of Since then Ostwind has set up its own offi- from the “Land of the Seven Valleys” to ma- France’s largest wind farm to date. ces in Fruges. “For this project, we were ab- ke a living in more economically stable re- le to achieve a satisfying compromise be- gions. “We would like our children to stay A better world for children tween the natural features of the terrain, the and be able to live comfortably in this won- After decades of supplying resources for the interests of the landowners and the stun- derful region”, he says. development of their nation, the local popu- ning beauty of the surrounding country- lation is proud of being able to play their side”, says Fabien Kayser, Director of Ost- The seven wind farms installed in and aro- part in protecting the environment by ma- wind International. Not only was the und the canton are expected to provide the king a modest contribution to France’s ob- countryside taken into consideration, the necessary financial boost and to guarantee jective to fulfil targets set by the Kyoto Pro- residents were also actively involved in 50 a secure future for the region and its inha- tocol. Hilmoine sums up the general open council meetings. “For the plants be- bitants. According to Hilmoine, everything atmosphere: “Residents are now convinced tween Crequy and Fruges alone, plans we- TITLE STORY WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 7

re modified five times in order to create the tion of access best passage for migratory birds.” roads would cause flooding in the val- Socialist Hilmoine took over the idea for the leys. However, the wind farm from the previous municipal administrative council which had had a feasibility study court of Douai re- done. “The study was a real eye-opener to jected all claims on the excellent potential of the wind in our the grounds that town. When I was elected mayor, I received they were unfoun- a unanimous majority to pursue the idea”, ded. Ostwind was reports Hilmoine. finally able to com- mence construc- A whole canton to benefit from tion of the first the project E-70 at the end of However, after the decision for the project 2006. “Ostwind Mayor Jean-Jacques Hilmoine at the opening of parts of the wind farm. was made, Hilmoine and his fellow associa- had already made tes needed to do a lot of convincing to get all its first experience with ENERCON’s gear- their word. The turbines were installed as political levels to jump on the bandwagon. less technology at the country’s highest predicted, the promised jobs were created The canton’s main locality could have con- wind farm in St. Clément, Ardèche. In the and tax revenue will be flowing.” structed a large wind farm only on its own meantime, the company has had us install territories, explains Hilmoine. “But I am con- roughly 40 turbines in France alone”, re- The mayor sees the wind farm as an oppor- vinced, that our communities have a better ports Peter Schuster, Manager of ENERCON tunity to finally be able to revamp the for- chance of surviving as a team.” In 2002, Hil- Sales France in La Croix Saint Ouen, Oise. mer mining region. Ever since he was able moine gained the approval of the canton’s to balance the community’s budget with mayors and town councils to sign a contract “Transparency is essential!” 150,000 euros tax revenue gained from the constituting the basis for the project. All For Ostwind, Fruges is their largest project first partial wind farm, “Monsieur le Maire” communities were to benefit from the in- ever. And for the first time the company is is certain that the communities in the can- vestment and leasing even though wind tur- operating part of the farm themselves: 15 ton will profit from wind energy. “As a poli- bines would not be erected everywhere. wind turbines with 30 MW remain under tician, I’ve dreamt of realising projects and their management. “We’re extremely plea- now I’ll be able to make these dreams co- Out of the original demand for 134 wind tur- sed that our development has found fertile me true”, he says enthusiastically. Included bines, the prefect of Nord Pas-de-Calais ap- ground and the fruit of our toils is beginning in his plans are a new industrial estate, a proved more than half in 2004. A suit was fi- to show”, says Gisela Wendling-Lenz, who home for senior citizens, a centre for child- led by the “Association for the protection of founded Ostwind together with her husband ren and teenagers as well as renovating the the environment of Fruges”, which, amongst Ulrich Lenz. Both are now in charge of the church tower.The rest of the funds are to be other things, maintained that the construc- international group. made available for environmental projects.

In France, the com- Ostwind sold a major portion of the project munities also play a to three investors. Amongst the three are decisive role for Groupe NGE from Tarascon (a road con- wind energy, as ter- struction firm with numerous offices around ritorial planning be- France), which discovered renewable ener- gins at this level. gy as an investment opportunity. Nelson So, keeping the lo- Quinta, managing director of Global Energia cal population in- Renobables SL (an investment company formed was an im- specialising in wind energy investment) portant factor. headquartered in Madrid considers their Hilmoine: “Transpa- commitment in Fruges as a stepping stone rency is essential. into the French wind energy market. And Anyone can check the third operator is the international invest- and see that our ment company, Babcock & Brown (B&B), Fabien Kayser, Ostwind International – interview with regional television station. partners have kept with its “B&B Wind Partners” fund. 8 WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 TECHNOLOGY

Single blade installation Tried and tested technique for forest sites For wind turbines installed at sites with little space to manoeuvre, is this a solution for wooded mountain rid- the hub is first hoisted into place on the nacelle followed by the rotor ges, but also for rocky sites with steep slo- blades, lifted and installed individually. Hub and rotor blade preas- pes and limited space for preassembly. sembly on the ground is no longer necessary. And watching an over In practice, the engineers and project ma- 30-metre long E-70 or E-82 blade hovering over the ground is a nagers discovered yet another advantage of spectacular sight. this assembly procedure; the hub can be hoisted even at slightly stronger winds as, The tried and tested single blade installation cond wind turbine as a community invest- without blades, less surface is exposed to technique used to install rotor blades at mo- ment project. the wind. “This is a tremendous advantage re difficult sites is the ideal solution. An ex- for erecting machines at windy sites such ample of one of these locations is Streuberg Space-saving technology as those along the coast of Ireland”, says situated between Nuremburg and Heilbronn Since sites economically attractive for wind Jörg Zimmerman, coordinator for ENERCON on the state border between Baden-Wurt- energy are often situated along wooded installation teams. “The single blade techni- temberg and Bavaria. At the end of 2006, mountain ridges, ENERCON technicians ha- que provides more options for new sites.” ENERCON installed an E-70/2 MW turbine ve been working on solutions for difficultly there for Windkraft Streuberg GmbH. accessible locations for years. So far, the Also, if weather conditions do not permit the single blade installation is the best method. nacelle to be completely installed in a single In line with their policy to protect nature, Normally, assembling a wind turbine requi- construction phase, the rotor blades can be ENERCON employed this particularly sophi- res a wide-open level area larger than the mounted later on. For single blade installa- sticated technique in order to preserve va- diameter of the entire rotor (blades and tion it is not necessary to have a crane as luable forest area around the turbine. The hub). However, far less space is needed big as the one needed for installing a com- project so convinced the local residents that using the single blade technique. This is an pletely assembled rotor hub. With this tech- they are now considering installing a se- important factor in forested areas. Not only nique, erection teams rig the rotor blade to

Blade being guided to the hub… …led to the blade adapter in the horizontal position... TECHNOLOGY WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 9

a crane cable. The outer two thirds of the lands where ENERCON is installing 60 E-82 the Feuchtwangen region. Together, they blade and the inner end are held with two turbines for the Dutch company Essent founded the Windkraft Streuberg GmbH. guide ropes which the technicians control near Eemshaven using single blade hoisting Each family holds equal shares. from the ground by winch. This way they because of limited space. “In the meantime can assist the crane driver in manoeuvring we’ve become just as proficient in the Personal contacts to ENERCON the rotor blade into the right mounting posi- single blade method as in the preassembled Förster had his first contact to the turbine tion. Via radio, a person in the nacelle lets hub technique. In both cases, weather per- manufacturer through Steffen Himsel, an those on the ground know whether they mitting, we are able to install the entire employee working for Wobben Research need to use the guide ropes to correct the nacelle in just one day”, says Zimmermann. and Development (WRD) in Aurich. Himsel’s position and if so, how. home town is not far from Streuberg. The Forest site project Streuberg 23-year old has been following a combined The rotor blades have to be mounted to the Compared to the overall project, the time it studies/practice programme in electronics hub horizontally. First, the team adjusts the takes to install a wind turbine in the forest is at the University of Applied Science in Wil- rotor head electromechanically until the negligible. The permission to build the turbi- helmshaven since 2005. His practical stu- blade adapter is in the exact position. Once ne on Streuberg was delayed for six years dies are taking place at ENERCON in Aurich. in place, the blade is securely fastened and because of a court case (whose outcome Himsel was at the installation on Streuberg part of the team removes the crane cable was favourable for the future owners) and in person. Förster: “That was even more while still in the hub. The same procedure is various campaigns carried out by a few lo- convincing for us.” used for the next blade. cal politicians and wind turbine opponents. “Here, it wasn’t the inhabitants who were Himsel has been fascinated with the single ENERCON has been using this technique for protesting against the turbines but the local blade installation ever since he and other the past three years and has already gained politicians”, remembers Walter Förster, ENERCON co-workers developed a contai- experience in more than 200 single blade Windkraft Streuberg GmbH shareholder. ner unit used to turn the hub into the moun- installations. The number of international ting position electromechanically. “Of cour- projects installed using this application is Förster became interested in this type of se I really wanted to be on site when an increasing. Last year, e.g., at the mountain energy production after seeing wind turbi- ENERCON wind turbine was being installed site Alto Minho Picoto in Northern Portugal, nes near Rothenburg. He has been an avid near my home town”, adds Himsel, who has erection teams installed all thirty-six blades supporter of wind energy ever since. “Other been a fan of wind energy ever since he on twelve E-82/2MW turbines one by one. A methods of producing energy are costly and visited the nacelle of an E-40 at the age of more recent example is in Ireland where finite. Nature is providing us with free ener- 14. At WRD in Aurich he is currently working near Bantry, Co. Cork, the hubs of four out gy through wind”, says Förster. To realise with other engineers on improving the elec- of a total of thirteen E-70s are to be hoisted his project, he obtained a construction per- trical drive system for blade pitch. The tar- without blades due to constant strong mit for one wind turbine on his property on get is to facilitate installing the rotor blades winds. Another location is in the Nether- Streuberg and approached four families in to the hub even further.

...received in the nacelle...... and mounted. Foundation works at Bessakerfjellet. Wind farm at Norwegian fjords New roads to Bessakerfjellet In May, construction work started on the last 13 out of 25 E-70 wind In 2008, the installation of the remaining 13 energy converters (WEC) on the Bessakerfjellet mountain in central turbines will be completed before the onset Norway. Transporting the turbine components up the steep slopes of of winter. In spring, the remaining load rings were installed on the foundations. At the end the mountain ridge beside a fjord is particularly challenging. of April, the first of five ships with wind tur- Bessakerfjellet is located on the Fosen peninsula north of Trondheim bine components arrived in Åfjord. Within in central Norway. For this project, ENERCON has chosen to use rock- three days, all parts were unloaded and hau- anchor foundations again. These have already proven themselves at led to the construction site. Installation work the Valsneset and Hundhammerfjellet sites. is scheduled to be completed in August.

The foundations for all 25 WECs of type port through blasting and dredging“, says 150 WEC planned near Trondheim E-70/2.3 MW were already built in the sum- project manager Lutz Gormanns. Norwegian utility company Trønder-Energie mer of 2007. „Rock-anchor foundations AS who operates the wind farm already with bolt cages are more costly to build, and But the logistical challenges did not stop runs five E-70 turbines in Valsneset, is also anchoring them in the rock means extra there. Since the site is located on a steep located on the Fosen peninsula. Currently, a work. But they offer considerable advanta- and hitherto undeveloped mountain, the cu- number of developers are planning about ges for strong-wind sites on rocky ground stomer had to blast a road of about 3 kilo- another 150 WEC in the central Norwegian like Bessakerfjellet and Valsneset“, says metres into the mountain to be able to ac- region around Trondheim. Most of these Robin Borgert, ENERCON Sales representa- cess the wind farm site and build the projects are currently awaiting planning tive for Norway. „By using rock-anchor foundations. In total, about 12 kilometres of permission. Some of the very large projects foundations, we saved on costly long-di- new roads were built for the project in this are causing hot debates. Critics even resort stance transports of larger-sized foundation sparsely populated region. to typical prejudices that have long since sections and great amounts of concrete.“ been considered obsolete. Extreme wheather conditions For Bessakerfjellet, transportation is particu- Between June and November 2007, The inhabitants of neighbouring Valsneset, larly challenging. Even though the site is lo- ENERCON installation teams built the first on the other hand, seem to have grown fond cated on the coast, there are no suitable 12 turbines. „Last year’s extreme weather of the five E-70 turbines that have been tur- ports nearby and no storage areas for ship- conditions slowed down installation“, says ning on their peninsula since 2006. Trønder- ments of WEC components. A solution was Gormanns. Winter came in mid-October, Energie took up a proposal from long-time finally found in Åfjord, almost 50 kilometres making the situation even worse. „In order resident Inga Nergård and named the turbi- away. The port there offered a suitable quay to be able to continue construction at 300 nes Dortea, Marta, Beata, and Laura, after size and enough storage space, but still, so- metres altitude, we had to clear the roads of four former residents of Valsneset, and Eli me preparation work was necessary. „The snow every day and specially secure the Arnstad, then manager of the public energy water wasn't deep enough for the size of crane platforms, some of which were co- agency Enova who performed the inaugura- ships we need. So we had to enlarge the vered in ice.“ tion ceremony for the wind farm. INTERNATIONAL WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 11

E-82 in Martigny/Switzerland Bumper crop of wind in the Rhone valley Earlier this year, ENERCON installed an E-82/2 MW in the Rhone valley encompass up to twelve turbines. Realisati- near Martigny in the canton. Three kilometres downriver from on is scheduled for 2010 to 2012. the site, an E-70/2.0 MW has already been turning for two years. After Challenges of the location Switzerland created favourable regulations on the federal level inclu- The soil in the river valley is very soft, con- ding the introduction of a power purchase price, the country has been sisting mostly of sandy, muddy sediments. turning into an increasingly attractive wind power market. This made a pile foundation necessary for the E-82. 36 piles were installed 15m deep Near Martigny, the Rhone runs its course at effect in 2009 might apply to the E-82. It sti- into the ground. “Precise logistics made it an altitude of only 450 metres. The adjacent pulates the equivalent of 10.5 to 12.5 euro- possible to transport all precast concrete mountain slopes rise steeply to 3000 met- cents/kWh as power purchase price. tower segments and all turbine components res. Within a 50 kilometres radius, over 30 to the site within just two weeks. We used a mountain peaks exceed 4000 metres. The KohleNusbaumer was founded in 2001 with Rhone valley cuts through the east-west a focus on environmental and renewable en- barrier formed by the Alps.“The valley forms ergies projects. “We were convinced that a channel where air pressure along the We- there are many sites in Switzerland suited to stern Alps evens out”, says Oliver Kohle of the profitable exploitation of wind energy.” the KohleNusbaumer consulting & enginee- Oliver Kohle and Hervé Nusbaumer took the ring firm in Lausanne. This makes for attrac- initiative and measured the wind in the Rho- tive wind power sites along the river: The ne valley themselves. They used their results E-70 near Martigny on a 99m steel tower to approach the municipalities and utility achieves about 4.5 million kWh p.a. Even companies and convinced them of the idea. higher yield figures are forecast for the E-82 on a 98m precast concrete tower. “Climate RhônEole’s president Nicolas Mettan con- conditions here include medium to strong firms that the region was eager to embrace winds that spring up suddenly and can be the idea of wind energy exploitation. “We exploited very efficiently”, explains Kohle. are planning further turbines because we want to make optimal use of our location.” Municipalities and utilities as operators “In the whole world, this is the only site The turbines are operated by Collonges-ba- where turbines are running in such a nar- sed RhônEole SA, which is owned half by the row, deep valley”, Kohle points out. This lo- local municipalities (Collonges, Dorénaz, cation makes sound emissions a more sen- , Martigny, Vernayaz) and half by sitive issue. This is true, particularly at night the utility companies: Synergy, supplier for when there is less noise coming from the The E-82 aginst the background of “Le Catogne”. Martigny; the Lausanne utility supply board, valley motorway. The closest residential supplier for Collonges; and Service électri- area is 600 metres away. “We’ve chosen temporary exit from the nearby motorway. que intercommunal de Vernayaz (SEIC), sup- ENERCON turbines not least because they Our team only needed three weeks to com- plier for the remaining municipalities. The run so quietly.” Currently, there are ten mo- plete the entire installation – using a 500t Lausanne utility supply board add half of the re projects in the pipeline, predominantly in lattice tower crane, one of the largest ones E-70’s power output to their own energy western Switzerland. Besides the Rhone available in Switzerland”, report ENERCON’s mix; SEIC sells the other half as green elec- sites, development focuses on sites in the project managers Christian Oberbeck and tricity. The new energy feed law coming into Jura mountain range. The largest projects Nils Niedermowwe. 12 WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 ENERCON AT FAIRS

This year’s ENERCON stand on Thursday, 24 April. Hanover Fair 2008 Forum for wind energy on land

200,000 people visited the Hanover Fair 2008, said fair organisers. wind energy efficiently. The tower itself is The trade fair took place in Hanover, capital of Germany’s north-wes- assembled from precast concrete seg- tern state of Lower Saxony, in April. Besides their well-known E-82 ments. This facilitates construction work at less accessible sites where logistics are model, ENERCON displayed the E-20 aluminium blade at their booth challenging. in hall 13. Presentations held at the booth emphasised the perfor- mance increase of the land-based generation of wind energy; deve- Trade fair visitors in Hanover could take a loping offshore wind farms is thus unnecessary. close look at the aluminium blade for the E-20/100 kW, cast in one piece and finished As in previous years, the E-82 model was a farm in the western German region of Sie- with a rough-ground surface. Most people big crowd magnet. Hub heights for this tur- gerland is the first site where ENERCON in- liked to touch the surface briefly for a tactile bine type start at 70 metres; the machine is stalled E-82 turbines on 138-metre precast impression of the material. The use of me- currently ENERCON’s worldwide standard concrete towers. tal makes the turbine easier to recycle at product. ENERCON’s trade fair statistics the end of its service life. At the same time, showed that the E-82 is the most in-de- This configuration is highly suitable for sites the rotor runs more smoothly because mand turbine type. The Hilchenbach wind that require greater hub heights to exploit aluminium has greater inertia of mass com- ENERCON AT FAIRS WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 13

pared to glass-fibre reinforced plastic Developments (GFRP) usually used. in Germany are also relevant on Expanding production capacities an international As in previous years, the presentations de- level: ENERCON livered at the ENERCON booth met with a lot take their pro- of interest among trade fair visitors, custo- ducts to maturi- mers, supplier representatives, and inve- ty on their ho- stors. ENERCON Production Manager Klaus me market. Peters presented the company’s most re- Thus, interna- cent activities aimed at increasing manu- tional custo- facturing capacities. He spoke about a new mers benefit, facility in Brazil that went live in 2007 and too, because manufactures generators for the E-70. He they receive also mentioned the construction of a new cutting-edge foundry near Aurich and the new concrete technology in tower factory in the port of Magdeburg. the form of fi- “The goal of all these activities is to satisfy nished products the increasing demand for our products out of series The E-20 aluminum blade sparked lively discussions at the booth. worldwide, and to shorten delivery times.” production. mate change, said ENERCON Managing Di- ENERCON Managing Director Hans-Dieter Wind energy becoming cheaper rector Aloys Wobben. His presentation illust- Kettwig emphasised the great onshore po- than conventional power plants rated what it will mean if average tempera- tential still available to the domestic and Kettwig pointed out that generating wind tures on Earth do actually rise by five the international wind energy industry. He power onshore is becoming increasingly degrees, as predicted by the Intergovern- presented the planned installation figures cheaper by comparison. He presented a mental panel on Climate Change: Global war- for Germany where the company could in- forecast showing that by 2013 at the latest, ming by more than half of today’s average. stall between 800 and 1000 MW of wind prices for electricity generated in conven- power annually over the coming years. A tional power plants will exceed the wind po- For Wobben, the technologies developed by precondition for this was that the political wer purchase price. This is due to invest- ENERCON make an essential contribution to discussion about renewable energies did ment costs for the construction of new counteracting climate change: For example, not forget the inland sites, according to power plants and rising procurement costs the energy yield of ENERCON wind turbines Kettwig. The increased power output of in the conventional sector. increased twentyfold in the 13 years that lie land-based wind energy converters made between the E-40/500 kW and the the installation of offshore wind farms with Only by switching to 100 % regenerative E-126/6 MW (2007). “This creates an enor- incalculable risks superfluous. energy sources we will be able to curb cli- mous potential for saving CO2.”

Data entry: ENERCON used the trade fair to present career opportunities within the Accessing wind tubine performance data: Owners/operators getting to know the company. ENERCON Service Info Portal (SIP). 14 WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 SUPPLIER

HegerGuss 5,000 tons of cast iron per year for wind energy HegerGuss GmbH, a family- owned business located in Enkenbach-Alsenborn near Kaiserslautern in south-western Germany, has been manu- facturing iron goods for over 100 years. For a time, the com- pany specialised in manufactu- ring steel and special steel apparatus, but in the late 1970s returned its focus exclusively on the manufacturing of high- end cast components. Today, HegerGuss is an important supplier to ENERCON. Johannes Heger standing beside a cast component at the entrance to the HegerGuss premises.

The Enkenbach foundry primarily produces sector. “That means that this year, we pro- mer, this is corrected by adding the appro- cast components for power generation. Be- cess about 5,000 tonnes of cast iron for priate substances. The actual casting only sides components for wind energy conver- ENERCON alone”, explains Heger. starts after all checks have been comple- ters, the product range includes crankcases ted. Casting also includes a test bar atta- and cylinder blocks for diesel engines used Like many foundries, HegerGuss works pre- ched to the component. This test bar is used in boats, locomotives, and stationary power dominantly with wood patterns and resin- to analyse quality-relevant material pro- generators, as well as turbine housings. bonded moulding sand. “If individual com- perties such as tensile strength, elongation These cast components represent about ponents are needed quickly, we can also fall at break, hardness, and notched bar impact three quarters of the company’s total manu- back on styrofoam patterns”, says Harald work before components are shipped. facturing output. The remainder is made up Koch, head of process management and of cast products used in other areas of ma- quality manager at HegerGuss. The styro- It takes about two hours for a large part such chine engineering. foam remains in the casting mould and is as a rotor hub to solidify, and several days incinerated as the iron flows into the mould. for it to cool down to a temperature below One third of production The disadvantage of this method is that 200 °C. The cast component itself is exami- output for ENERCON each pattern can only be used once; there- ned in certain predefined spots using ultra- “On average, we produce 18 cast compo- fore, it is mostly suited to the production of sound to look for possible structure faults. nents a day. This year, we expect to process prototypes. around 15,000 tonnes of cast iron”, says Computerised test casting Johannes Heger, the managing director of The central task of quality assurance is to To keep the number of test castings low du- HegerGuss GmbH who holds a degree in analyse the elements contained in the mol- ring the development and initial pattern machine engineering. Parts for wind energy ten iron using a spectrometer. If the analy- phases, the foundry works with computer- converters represent about one third of the sis shows for example that the carbon, aided simulation of the casting and solidifi- manufacturing output. ENERCON is Heger- magnesium, or silicon content of the melt cation processes. “This helps us to identify Guss’ only customer in the wind energy exceeds the values stipulated by the custo- and prevent many sources of error at an WINDBLATT 02 | 2008 15

early stage”, explains Norbert Thines who led graphic illustrations of the individual HusumWind 2008 manages casting mould construction at He- manufacturing steps to explain the complex (Husum/Germany) gerGuss. Johannes Heger had the standard processes as simply as possible. “Pages 09.09. – 13.09.2008 software customised to HegerGuss’ specific and pages of written instructions are often International trade fair for wind requirements in cooperation with the Fraun- hard to understand. Pictures make it much energy www.husum-wind.com hofer Institut für Techno- und Wirtschafts- easier to check what has already been mathematik (ITWM) in Kaiserslautern. The completed and what still needs to be done”, ITWM still provides support for projects says Koch. It is also easier to update the in- Powerexpo 2008 where the simulation creates particularly formation after steps in the production pro- (Saragossa/Spain) large amounts of data. cess have changed. 24.09. – 26.09.2008 International exhibition on HegerGuss and the ITWM also developed a New production facility for wind efficient and sustainable energy method for the shape optimisation of tech- energy components www.feriazaragoza.com nical components based on topology opti- In 2001, HegerGuss began to supply misation: The process starts with the defini- ENERCON with blade adapters and rotor tion of the maximum component volume hubs. Soon after, they expanded their pro- Eolica Expo 2008 along with certain fixed positions. The mag- duction to include stator support stars, axle (Rome/Italy) nitude and direction of the forces and mo- pins, and main carriers for ENERCON’s E-70 01.10. – 04.10.2008 International exhibition dedicated ments that impact on the component are and E-82 wind energy converters. “Our coo- to wind energy then identified for all load cases. peration with ENERCON is really excellent”, INFO-SERVICE www.eolicaexpo.com says Heger. “We appreciate their great Optimisation reduces cast competence and reliability in particular.” component weight by one third Renexpo 2008 The software then projects the distribution In the year 2000, ENERCON approached (Augsburg/Germany) of forces impacting on the component whi- HegerGuss with a request. To be able to 09.10. – 12.10.2008 le it is in active use and, based on mathe- manufacture the requested numbers, International trade fair and matics, creates a model intended to achie- HegerGuss decided to build an additional conference for renewable energy ve optimal material thickness and shape. production facility. ENERCON values their & energy efficent building But frequently, this is not yet the ideal ca- reliable partnership with the Enkenbach www.renexpo.de sting shape. The engineering department company. “HegerGuss recognised the po- and the foundry tential of wind Canwea 2008 still need to ad- energy and of (Vancouver/Canada) apt the model to our company in 19.10. – 22.10.2008 foundry prac- particular early Annual conference and trade show tices. This im- on. With their for wind energy proves the distri- uncompromising www.canwea.ca bution of forces focus on quality in cast compo- and cost effec- nents and typi- tiveness, they Sireme 2008 cally achieves have been con- (Paris/France) reductions in tributing consi- 18.11. – 20.11.2008 weight of up to stently to the Trade exhibition for renewable 30 percent. positive deve- energy development, energy management and regional lopment of our sustainable development Another innova- business rela- www.sireme.fr tion at Heger- tionship”, says Guss is the Oliver Smidt, hg.visutec data- who is responsi- DEWEK 2008 base that is ac- ble for materials (Bremen/Germany) cessible to the management at 26.11. – 27.11.2008 entire staff. It ENERCON in Au- German wind energy conference contains detai- Cast of a rotor hub at HegerGuss. rich. www.dewek.de WINDBLATT Brisk winds from Brussels

The debate on the new European Union guideline for renewable ener- tremely big companies are able to shoulder gies is entering the next round. The aim is to pass the legislation befo- the extensive risk – and even then interest in re European elections in June 2009. Europe’s goal is highly ambitious: building clean decentralized renewable energy power plants is limited. In the medi- By the year 2020, the share of renewable energy consumption is inten- um term an increase in the price of renewa- ded to be 20 % in order to make a considerable contribution to climate bles such as wind and hydro power (already protection and secure energy supply. close to market prices) may impair their acceptance. However, representatives from the renewa- Britain, under a quota system, developments ble energies sector are concerned about the are dragging. In countries with fixed power Thus, the industry is seeking contact with new EU Commission draft. As a consequen- purchase prices such as Germany, France the European Commission and Parliament in ce, promotion systems for renewables within and Spain, new installations are sprouting up order to exclude certificate trading from the the European Union were to be guideline as much as pos- harmonized – by introducing sible. Although, according green certificate trading. Ac- to the commission’s draft, Finland cording to its supporters, this 110 only countries having al- – Minimum should lead to an economical- Norway ready fulfilled their target feed-in tariff Sweden Estonia 333 58 ly efficient development of re- 788 at home will be allowed to Latvia newable energy at promising – Quota system + 27 participate in certificate certificate trading Denmark Lithuania sites. The drawback of this 3,125 trading, green certificates Source: new energy/German WindEnergy Associtaion 50 policy, however, would be that – Other support Ireland are considered as tradable programme 805 Great Britain programme Netherlands Poland sites with average potential 2,389 goods – and according to 1,746 276 would be not be considered. – w/o support Belgium Germany EU legislation, their trade 287 22,247 programme Lux. Czech Rep. cannot just be restricted. 35 116 Slovakia If the goal of 20 % renewables 5 Legal action regarding Austria 982 Hungary is to be reached, this is not the France Switzerland 65 Romania harmonized certificate tra- 2,454 12 Slov. 8 most effective policy. Further- 0 Croatia ding could be taken in the 17 more, marginal sectors such Italy Bulgaria European Court of Justice. 2,726 as photovoltaic and geother- 70 Portugal mia would be especially hard 2,150 Spain As an alternative, the indu- 15,145 Greece hit by the intentions to do 871 stry suggests a flexible away with power purchase re- system which also allows gulations, as they would not member states to reach stand a chance in a system Promotion model and wind energy development in Europe (in MW, status end of 2007). their renewable targets by based on quotas and certifica- investing in other coun- tes unless purchase prices were differentia- everywhere. Although quota and certificate tries – without prescribing certificate tra- ted according to technology. models – with up to 0.16 Euro per kWh of ding. Models in which member states can wind power – present advantages at first jointly assess their target or rather a balance But not only this sector is concerned. Despi- glance, return on investment is less secure. between states without certificate trading te their pronounced lead in the market, wind For example, if a country reaches the stipu- according to quantities look promising. turbine operators would only benefit from lated quota of renewables, the price of certi- Member states would have the choice of this system in the short term. Currently, wind ficates will drop to nearly nil and customers agreeing international power purchase price energy is primarily being developed in will no longer be interested in investing in regulations or to set up a common certifica- countries with a fixed power purchase price further renewable projects. te system. Such instruments would actually system similar to the German Renewable provide EU members with the flexibility Energies Act (EEG). Even in countries with In countries with quota systems, expansion necessary to achieve the goal of reducing excellent wind conditions such as Great in wind energy is noticeably slack. Only ex- carbon imprint.