Germany: WindEnergy Hamburg - International Manufacturers to Present New Developments for The Onshore Market at Leading Trade Fair for Wind Energy

97 per cent of the world’s installed wind energy capacity of roughly 432,419 MW is provided by wind turbines installed on land. Onshore is the bread and butter of the industry, despite the fact that increasing numbers of ever bigger wind turbines are conquering the seas. Since onshore wind turbines and components have more or less reached technical maturity, the current innovation focus for production and operation is on reducing costs. The advancements achieved in this respect will be demonstrated by leading wind turbine manufacturers at WindEnergy Hamburg from 27 to 30 September 2016. The world’s leading trade fair for wind energy expects more than 1,200 exhibitors showcasing their novelties on an exhibition floor covering 65,000 square metres across nine fair halls. This year for the first time, the conference of WindEurope will be held in parallel with WindEnergy Hamburg.

Overall focus LCOE

Leading turbine and component suppliers will at WindEnergy explain about their latest onshore product offerings all with a focus at further driving down lifecycle generating costs (LCOE). A second Hamburg main exhibitor focus is at new products and solutions for low and medium wind speed markets, including some of the latest 4MW-range platforms with matching 140-metre+ rotor diameters. Meeting specific demands for complex forested sites is another application area for these turbines offering new tower concepts and hub heights up to 160m. Suppliers including Enercon and Vestas have developed wide-base tubular steel towers with segmented bottom sections for easier road transportation and on-site final assembly. New cost-effective concrete-steel towers and optimized installation technigues serve similar market demands. Low-noise allows higher installation density in populated areas, increasingly a sales success factor. Wind power grid integration is finally a hot wind industry topic too at WindEnergy. An overview.

4MW class and modular towers

Enercon will explain Hamburg visitors on the modular EP4 platform, featuring segmented blades and a split generator for eased road transport. A 4.2MW E126 EP4 prototype operates in the Netherlands since April, and a 4.2MW low-wind E-141 version is planned for later this year. The E-141 has a record 141-metre rotor diameter, and a new modular hybrid concrete-steel tower with maximum 159-metre hub height. Other highlights energy storage and electric mobility solutions. Managing Director Nicole Fritsch-Nehrings said: "Hamburg WindEnergy 2016 plays a major role in ENERCON's event calendar. We look forward to meeting customers, business partners and other stakeholders for discussing all challenges linked to renewable energy generation and supply.”

Lagerwey Wind (NL) presents a novel direct drive 4MW L136 turbine for IEC class IIA with 136-metre rotor and passive air-cooled permanent magnet generator. It comes with a wide-base Modular Steel Tower (MST) and hub heights of 120m, 132m, and 166 metres. A prototype is planned for the end of 2016 or Q1-2017.

Evolutionary

Gamesa will inform Hamburg visitors about its expanded portfolio of low and medium wind turbines including the latest G126-2.5MW for IEC IIIA. Also new is the G132-3.3MW for IEC IIA, the first model version of a 3MW turbine platform with a prototype planned for mid 2016. Both models incorporate Gamesa’s high-speed drivetrain concept and doubly fed induction generator (DFIG).

Exhibitor Siemens explains about the geared SWT-2.3-120 with only 203W/m2 focused at the US, and a 3.3MW direct drive SWT-3.3-130 for especially low and medium wind market Germany, "We see increasing demand for medium to low wind turbines in German and European onshore markets and particular site conditions," says Thomas Richterich, CEO Onshore of Siemens Wind Power. "Our answer is a broad turbine portfolio for matching future operational strategies."

General Electric (GE) will update WindEnergy visitors about the 2MW and 3MW turbine platforms. New turbines include a 3.2MW 3.2-130 for IEC IIIA, and two 3.4MW models with 130-metre (IEC IIB) and 137m rotor diameter (IEC IIIB). The 2.0 – 2.4MW volume platform is available in several power-rating / rotor diameter combinations, with the GE 2.0-116 the most sold variant last year.     

Smart control

Hamburg exhibitor Envision Energy will inform visitors about its range of ‘smart’ turbines. This includes the EN115/2.3MW volume model, a ‘fast runner’ at the Chinese market. Envision is partner of the European Union funded ecoswing consortium developing a compact superconductor generator. It will in future be fitted in a 3.6MW two-bladed direct drive concept turbine.

Senvion highlights a new low-wind 3.4MW 3.4M140 EBC turbine model with 140-metre rotor diameter, and record 68.5-metre long blades. One distinct product feature is the advanced Eco Blade Control. The prototype is planned for 2017 and series production start in 2018. In the next years the new product platform will be expanded with sister variants for IEC II and IEC I.

Vestas introduced a 900kW multi-rotor Concept turbine with four rotors. The company will explain WindEnergy visitors on expected benefits regarding scaling, markets approach and future outlook. Vestas will further explain about other advancements including the low-wind V136-3.45MW and Large Diameter Steel Tower. “WindEnergy Hamburg is embraced with enthusiasm by our customers around the globe, and we are looking forward to present them our latest technology and service solutions”, says President of Vestas Business Unit Central Europe Nils de Baar.

What is more, the leading trade fair for wind energy will reflect the entire value chain, with exhibitors covering logistics, foundations and other components specifically related to onshore wind, through to occupational safety, wind farm optimisation, maintenance and repair.