Germany 2,50 Austria 2,70 Switzerland 4,90 sfr …€¦ · Switzerland 4,90 sfr ROTOR BLADE...

NO. 19 ı September 2005 NEWSLETTER FROM www.nordex-online.com

WINDPOWERUPDATE

Germany 2,50 5Austria 2,70 5

Switzerland 4,90 sfr

ROTOR BLADE N90-WIND FARM: CHINA:

PRODUCTION: Electricity for 20 Turbines with

Construction method 8,000 Households. cold-climate

used in Aircraft Industry. Version.

PAGE 8 PAGE 12 PAGE 18

ı Contents/EditorialWINDPOWERUPDATE2

Contents

N90/250 0 kWThe new turbine generation

PAG E 6

N 9 0 - W I N D FA R M :100 meter towers for more yield

PAG E 1 2

Background

Technology

Asia

Europe

News

Worldwide

Interview with Thomas Richterich, CEO of Nordex AG:“Nordex is fit for the Future” 4

Did you know ... 5

A powerful All-Rounder:Nordex N90/2500 kW 6

N90 Rotor Blades going into Series Production: Impetus from New Blades 10

Electricity for 8,000 Households:Largest German N90 Wind Farm in Operation 12

Non-stop Performance in Denmark:Nordex N90 Offshore Turbine with top Output 14

The N90 – a top Seller in Portugal:Installed Capacity exceeding 120 MW 15

Potential for new Installations:Repowering – a Market with a Future in Germany? 16

Robust cold-climate Turbines:20 Turbines for China 18

GermanyNew Installations in the 1st Half of 2005 18

France Abolition of the 12 MW Maximum 19

Worldwide Installations 19

O F F S H O R EYield exceeding expectations

by 9 %

PAG E 14

WINDPOWERUPDATE is published by Nordex AG, Bornbarch 2, 22848 Norderstedt, Germany

Tel: +49 40 50 09 8 -100, Fax: +49 40 50 09 8 -101

Editorial office: Marketing & PR Department

Layout: Heuer&Sachse, Hamburg

Edition no. 19

Issues: 8.000

Photo Cover: N90

No. 19 ı September 2005 3

Editorial

Type Capacity Regulation Markets

Nordex N43 600 kW Stall Asia

Nordex N50 800 kW Stall Asia

Nordex N60, N62 1.300 kW Stall Asia, Europe, Latin America

Nordex S70, S77 1.500 kW Pitch Europe

Nordex N80 2.500 kW Pitch Europe, Asia

Nordex N90 2.300 kW Pitch Europe

Nordex N90 2.500 kW Pitch Europe, Asia

NordexProduct-Program

Dear reader,

2005 is a special year for us, as it marks Nordex’s 20th birthday. Back in 1985, we constructed the first

wind turbine in Give, Denmark. Just two years later, what at that time was the world’s largest series-pro-

duced wind turbine with an output of 250 kW left our production facilities. Barely 13 years later, we had

increased turbine output ten-fold and constructed the world’s first 2.5 MW turbine. Since Nordex’s esta-

blishment, the company has evolved into one of the top producers of wind turbine systems with over 700

employees working worldwide and branches in Europe and Asia.

Naturally enough, we have seen both light as well as shadow over the past years. Turning to the future,

however, we want to raise our sales steadily and continue stabilizing and there is evidence to suggest that

we will be successful in our endeavors. In the 2nd quarter of 2005 alone, we received orders worth over

EUR 120 million, the largest intake of new business for a single quarter in our history.

The orders we have been receiving in the recent past show that our N90 class is the right product for

you. And in order to be able to meet your future needs, we are already working intensively on a new-gene-

ration of the N90. The result is the N90/2500 kW. With numerous detail solutions, optimized features and

inproved serviceability, it is the most efficient turbine in our range not least because it incorporates our

collected know-how from our 20 years in the wind energy industry.

I wish you pleasant reading.

Carsten Pedersen

ı BackgroundWINDPOWERUPDATE4

Mr. Richterich, following

the successful recapitaliza-

tion and the entry of finan-

cial investors Goldman

Sachs and Capital Mana-

gement Partners into the

Company, how much capi-

tal will Nordex have in the

future to finance its return

to success?

The capital increase has

generated fresh equity of up

to EUR 70 million. Then

there is a further EUR 60 mil-

lion from bank cash and

guarantee facilities. This ca-

pital is sufficient to ensure

that Nordex can return to

quieter waters and achieve sustained profitability. In the past

two years, we suffered severely from the fact that we were una-

ble to prefinance potential contracts. In the UK, for example,

where we have built the largest wind farm to date in Scotland,

we lost several jobs to a competitor which like Nordex also has

experience with systems in the 2 MW plus category. With an

equity ratio of 25 – 30 %, there is now less likelihood of this occur-

ring again.

Is there already any evidence of more favorable sentiment

towards Nordex in the market place?

As part of our marketing initiative, which we launched in

January, we have held preliminary talks with numerous custo-

mers, banks and investors on new projects. The upshot was that

in the 2nd quarter of 2005 we registered an order intake of over

EUR 120 million, the highest volume of new business which

Nordex has achieved in a single quarter in the past few years.

This clearly testifies to the renewed trust on the part of custo-

mers and banks in Nordex.

What about profitability?

With the completion of operative restructuring, we have now

eradicated the causes of our losses. As a result, we are now

completing our projects profitably again. However, the restruc-

turing activities performed over the past few years did not en-

tail excessive shrinkage. To keep ahead in our growth market,

we require a certain critical mass, which Nordex considers to

constitute a business volume of EUR 300 million. At this level,

we are able to operate in the black. As some factors which arose

in 2004 are still making themselves felt, we will not generate

sales of over EUR 300 million until next year. Although our order

books are full, the projects first have to be set up. That takes

time as we did not receive the capital urgently required for this

until the spring. The next step is to reinforce our earnings power

on a sustained basis. Specifically, this means a margin of 10 %

in good years and 5 % in bad years. A comparison with our peers

shows that this is possible.

What steps will you be taking in the future?

Today, we are already able to work profitably with the neces-

sary capacity utilization. However, we want to strengthen our

earnings power enough to ensure that we remain profitable

even in weak years and can thus invest more again. For this rea-

son, we will be continuing to enhance our internal organizatio-

nal structures.

And what marketing strategy are you pursuing?

We are well positioned in Western Europe. Thus, we have

received almost as many orders from Portugal as we have from

Germany. However, it should be remembered that many of our

German projects were delayed for home-grown reasons. Accor-

dingly, Nordex will be recapturing market share in its domestic

market. An additional taste of this was apparent in the first half

of the year during which Nordex constructed the largest num-

ber of turbines after Enercon, Vestas and GE. In France we are

the most successful project developer and producer, while in

the UK we are well positioned with our products and market

access. We must go new ways in China, North America and India

“Nordex is fit for tThe editors talk to Thomas Richterich, CEO of Nordex AG.

Interview with Thomas Richterich

Thomas Richterich, CEO of Nordex AG.


he Future”

in particular. In China, we have spent too much time realizing the

first independently financed wind farm. Now, however, Nordex

has realigned itself with new joint-venture structures for mar-

keting activities and local production facilities for megawatt tur-

bines. In the other two markets, we have also been scrutinizing

the potential available to us and are preparing the basis for our

operations there. Still, a few questions remain to be answered.

One thing that I can say for sure is that we will not be engaging

in North America and India at the same time. We can’t do every-

thing at once and want to avoid repeating past mistakes.

Last year, Nordex generated two thirds of its revenues out-

side Germany.Will this continue to be the case in the future?

We will achieve over one third of our sales in Germany this

year on account of catching-up effects. With its limited financi-

al resources, Nordex and also a number of customers were for-

ced to postpone projects, which are now being implemented

with fresh money. However, this is a unique effect confined to

2005. After that, we will consistently derive roughly two thirds

of our business outside Germany. Danish producers also have

a similar sales structure. In fact, in some cases exports account

for over 90 % of their business. The domestic market is prima-

rily important for pilot projects which aim to demonstrate tech-

nical capabilities in new areas.

With the N90/2300 kW Nordex has a competitive turbine.

What does the future hold in store?

Over the past two years, we have been concentrating on

remedying the teething problems inflicting our turbines. Today,

our systems have reached full series-production maturity, some-

thing which is by no means a given in this industry. Needless

to say, we have not completely stopped work on new systems.

Thus, the N90/2300 has been developed into a higher-output

N90/2500 turbine which we offer in a high-speed and low-speed

version. All this will be on display for the first time in Septem-

ber at Husumwind fair. Most of the wind farms currently being

developed are planned to comprise turbines with an output of

a maximum of 3 MW. In other words, we are fit for the future

and well positioned with our range over the next three years.

After that, Nordex will also be offering larger turbines. How-

ever, we do not yet have a specific road map because new desti-

nations and detours can repeatedly arise on such long journeys.

Who can say today which turbine needs to be adapted when for

what market? We must be able to response flexibly to market

requirements at all times instead of sticking to a rigid plan which

fails to take account of customers’ needs.

?Did you know ...… that the Nordex N90 rotor blade was developed using

the differential construction method applied in aircraft

building and that the load-bearing structure is separa-

ted from the aero-dynamic casing to reduce the weight

of the blade with a correspondingly favorable effect on

operating loads?

… that a Nordex N90 rotor blade weighs around 10 tons

and at a speed of 15 revolutions per minute in normal

operations its tip speed is approx. 250 kilometers per

hour and that the blade connection must withstand a

load equaling the weight of three fully loaded 150 ton

semi-trailers?

… that the Nordex N45 rotor blade is one of the largest

series-produced blades and, with a length of around

45 meters, exceeds the wing span of the Airbus A300?

… that, if all the synthetic fiber matting used to build a

N90 rotor blade were to be laid out side by side, it

would cover 92 % of the area of a football field and that

the volume of resin used per blade is sufficient to fill a

medium-size private swimming pool?

Nordex N90/2500kW

A powerful all-round Power Plant:

New dimensions in the 3rd generation

ı TechnologyWINDPOWERUPDATE6

Some nine months ago our engineers were given

the task of providing our customers with a key

to a high return on capital in the form of a new gene-

ration of turbines. The result of their intensive re-

search work is the N90/2500 kW.

Practical experience gained from around 200

machines in the N80/2500 kW and N90/2300 kW tur-

bine family installed worldwide contributed to the

design of this 2.5 MW machine with its 90-metre rotor.

The power curve, the independently measured noise

properties, network compatibility comparable to that

of the N90/2300 kW and the test findings obtained

by independent experts on a Danish wind field

confirm the high efficiency ratio of the turbine. The

N90/2500 kW is the most efficient wind energy system

in the Nordex product family. The economically desi-

gned performance of the turbine ensures high yields

over the entire wind spectrum – an increase in elec-

tricity production of up to 20 % is possible compa-

red to conventional 2.5 MW turbines

The high-speed and low-speed versions of the

turbine take optimal advantage of both strong and

low winds. As the N90 series was deliberately very

generously designed, we were able to increase the

capacity of the N90 to 2500 kW without any problems.

The modifications relate to many details that have a positive effect on the

machine's yield and reliability:

high level of availability in the pitch system:

optimised emergency power supply for pitch drive

further developed battery-charging management, which supplies

the battery sets with a temperature-based charging voltage and

conducts an automatic voltage test of the batteries every two

hours. Each set of batteries is equipped with a charger

automatic lubrication system for all three pitch systems

breathable water protection

low-wear rotor brake

active hydraulic rotor brake permits idling when separated from

the network, relieving the drive train

maintenance-friendly machine housing

optimised nacelle casing provides better thermal properties,

safer working and makes service and transport easier

powerful yawing

further developed brake and drive system

intelligent control concept ensures low-strain yawing under

extreme operating conditions

automatic lubrication

automatic greasing of components of the drive train and azimuth

and pitch system

new!

new!

new!

new!

new!

new!

new!

new!

new!



One of the core components of the N90/2500 kW is the rotor

with its diameter of 90 metres and a sweep of 6362 squa-

re meters – equivalent to the area covered by a football pitch.

With these dimensions, the N90 numbers among the largest

onshore turbines, making it possible to exploit the maximum

amount of energy from the wind supply. But a rotor blade is

also subjected to enormous strains. This is why only rotor bla-

des fulfilling the highest standards in terms of manufacture and

material quality are used for the N90/2500 kW.

Thanks to the new geometry of the blade tip, Nordex had

made major advances with regard to noise optimisation. The

new profile has resulted in a significant reduction in noise emis-

sions. One more special feature: the large proportion of alumi-

nium in the tip ensures an extremely high level of protection

against lightning, providing a safety bonus compared to many

conventional rotor blades.

The N90/2500 kW can be supplied with different gearboxes.

In addition to the two-stage planetary gearbox with a spur-wheel

stage, the option of a crank gearbox is also offered. Both gear-

boxes are relatively compact and reliably convert the high tor-

que of large turbines.

reduced-noise operation at 95 % red. nominal output at 95 % nominal output

101.5 dB (A) 102.5 dB(A) 103.5 dB(A)* 104.5 dB(A)

1600 kW 2000 kW appr. 2200 kW 2500 kW

)* calculated

at 95 % nominal output

106 dB(A)

2500 kW

Our N90/2500-program at the glance:

• N90/2500 kW LS 50 Hz

• N90/2500 kW HS 50 Hz

• N90/2500 kW HS Offshore 50 Hz

• N90/2500 kW LS 60 Hz

• N90/2500 kW HS 60 Hz

Our customers have several options to choose from. The new

N90/2500 is designed for locations with strong winds and loca-

tions with low winds in the HS (high-speed) and LS (low-speed)

versions. We supply the turbine as a 50 or 60 Hz version, depen-

ding on the country where the wind park is to be connected to

the grid. The HS version of the N90/2500 kW can also be employ-

ed offshore.

The higher speed at which the high-speed version of the

N90/2500 rotates at wind speeds of between 8 and 13 m/s means

that it produces a higher energy yield than the low-speed ver-

sion. A further major difference between the HS and LS versi-

ons, apart from suitability for different locations (strong wind/

low wind), is the noise level. While the HS has a nominal speed

of up to 16 rpm, the LS is run at a maximum of 14.9 rpm. This

is reflected in the noise level. The reference output level at 95 %

nominal output is shown below:

N90/2500 LS N90/2500 HS


The inside of the nacelle has been optimised with a

functional design and adapted to the thermal behaviour of the

components, as well as being more spacious and thus more

service-friendly. An on-board crane facilitates transport of mate-

rials to the nacelle and inside the cabin, and a service crane with

a load capacity of 1000 kg can be installed as an option.

The electrical features of the N90/2500 kW fulfill the E.ON

grid-connection rules (Version 8/03) and further international

codes will be available shortly. The turbine is certified in accor-

dance with DIBt 2 and DIBt 3, as well as IEC 1b, IEC 2a and IEC 3a.

Technical specifications

Turbine concept: variable speed, single-blade adjustment

Nominal output: 2500 kW

Rotor diameter: 90 meters

Hub height: 80 – 100 meters (120 m in preparation)

Rotor

Type: upwind with active blade adjustment

Number of blades: 3

Swept area: 6.362 m2

Speed: 9,6 ... 14,85 rpm (LS); 16,00 rpm (HS)

Tip speed: approx. 70 m/s (LS); 75 (HS)

Blade material: fibreglass-reinforced plastic, integrated lightning protection

Tower

Hub height: 80 m, 100 m, 120 m (in preparation)

Operating data

Cut-in wind speed: 3 m/s

Nominal output wind: approx. 13 m/s (HS), approx. 14 m/s (LS)

Cut-out wind speed: 25 m/s

Generator

Type: twin-fed asynchronous generator


Nominal voltage: 660 V

Frequency: 50 or 60 Hz

Speed: 740 ... 1310 rpm

Gearbox

Type: two-stage planetary gearbox with one spur-gear stage or crank gearbox


Transmission: i= 71.9 to 92.9


Impetus from New

After the completion of intensive testing, Nordex

has started the internal production of rotor blades

for its N90/2,300kW turbine in spring 2005. The N90 bla-

des are amongst the largest currently being produced

in serial form. With a length of around 45 meters, a

NR 45 blade is roughly as long as the wing span of an

airliner such as the Airbus A300. In fact, the sweep of

the rotor has the same dimensions as a football field

(6,362 square meters). Yet, size is not a purpose unto

itself. “Many sites in Europe can be utilized more effi-

ciently with our N90 than with conventional turbines.

This is why demand for this series has risen sharply

over the past few months,” explains Thomas Richterich,

CEO of Nordex AG. Roughly 61 % of the projects

which Nordex is planning for this year are based on the

N90, with the Company expecting a similar proportion

in new orders.

Nordex’s own N90 rotor blades going into series production / new productionmethod for 45 meter rotor blades

The NR45 blade weights

approx. 10 tons.

N90 Rotor Blades going into Series Production:


Blades

To date, Nordex has sourced its N90 blades sole-

ly from a Danish supplier. Says Richterich: “We now

want to reduce this dependence to improve our ear-

nings situation and to stand apart from the com-

petition to an even greater extent.” To achieve this,

Nordex has developed a new blade design. Thus, the

load-bearing structure is separate from the aerody-

namic cover to optimize the blade properties. This

differential construction method is also used in the

aircraft industry. The main advantage is the low

weight of the blade, something which has a positi-

ve effect on operating loads and thus the availabili-

ty of the system as a whole.

The production method is also innovative. The

vacuum injection method tested with smaller com-

ponents over the past two years is now being used

for all components of the NR 45. This method invol-

ves placing the glass fiber in a vacuum so that the

structures can absorb the resin. As a result, consi-

stently high product quality is ensured and on-site

safety enhanced. In addition, Nordex is employing

a new coating method which has proven to be

highly weather-resistant in practice. For this pur-

pose, only polyurethane is used as a basis.

To date, Nordex has been solely producing rotor

blades for the two 1.5 MW at this facility. On account

of muted demand in Germany, however, the com-

pany expects sales of the rotor blades for this series

to weaken in the medium term. Accordingly, the com-

mencement of production of the blades for Nordex’s

top-selling N90 has come at just the right time.

A N90 blade form

with synthetic fiber

matting.

The vacuum injection method ensures

a high product quality.

ı EuropeWINDPOWERUPDATE12

Nordex has connected to the public grid the

hitherto largest megawatt wind farm with

N90/2300 kW turbines in Germany on a turn-key

basis. It has now completed the Ketzin wind farm

comprising eight N90 turbines and a total output of

18.4 MW for its customer e.disnatur, a subsidiary of

energy provider E.DIS AG.

The turbines have been placed on 100 meter-high

tube towers to achieve optimum energy yield from

the “Nauener Platte” wind power regions, located

roughly 20 km north of Potsdam. At this hub height,

the mean measured annual wind speed stands at

6.3 m/s. Notwithstanding this wind strength, which

is classified as a “moderate breeze”, the high-output

2.3 MW turbines specially developed for non-coastal

locations generate roughly 35 million kilowatt/hours

power year. This is enough to cover the annual elec-

tricity requirements of some 8,000 four-person hou-

seholds in Brandenburg and is equivalent to annual

savings of 30,000 tons of harmful CO2 emissions.

In 2003, e.disnatur commenced work on the “Ket-

zin” project and awarded Nordex the contract for

turn-key assembly of the turbines in spring 2004.

Nordex was responsible for handling the main con-

struction preparations such as work on the foun-

dation and access routes as well as the laying of cab-

ling in such a way as to avoid interfering with the

high-pressure gas pipelines traversing the site. In

addition, the eight turbines had to be fitted with flight

safety illumination on account of their height. This

also involved synchronizing the signals of the N90

turbines with the pre-existing wind turbines instal-

led by other operators on the site.

This wind farm, the first completed independently

by the E.DIS subsidiary, forms part of the “Knob-

lauch/Ketzin Renergiefarm”. Looking further forward

into the future, the wind turbines will be supple-

mented by biogas and photovoltaic systems. As well

as this, the possibility of storing carbon dioxide in

subterranean cavities for later use for producing

energy is being explored as part of the EU-funded

global “CO2-Sink” pilot project.

LargestGerman N90Wind Farm inOperation

Electricity for 8,000 Households:

The sixth Nordex/e.disnaturproject


The engineering company retained by e.disnatur,

Renergiepartner GmbH, Berlin, was responsible for

drafting the construction plans for the wind farm and

overseeing the permission-application process pur-

suant to the German Federal Emission Protection

Act. Key milestones in the preconstruction phase

included local investigations into the bird and ani-

mal world lasting a year at the site as well as an envi-

ronmental compatibility test. In addition, Nordex pro-

vided advice during the permission-application

procedure by drawing up an emergency and rescue

plan. During construction, it liaised with the opera-

tor of the underground gas pipeline.

The Ketzin wind farm is the sixth project which

Nordex and e.disnature have completed jointly.

Among other things, the two companies built the “Gut

Losten” wind farm comprising five N90 turbines in

2004 as well as the Schortewitz wind farm near Halle

in Saxony-Anhalt with six N80 turbines with an output

of 2.5 MW. To date, Nordex has installed 54 N90s

around the world, with a further 65 under construction

in Portugal, France and Germany as well as in other

countries.

The N90 on 100 meter

towers achieve optimum

energy yield.


Erected in summer 2003 off the Danish port of Fre-

derikshavn in Kattegatt, the first offshore turbi-

ne to be built by a German manufacturer has gene-

rated roughly 8,000 MWh electricity in its second

year of operation, thus exceeding the expectations

of the customer Elsam A/S. “In a normal wind year

with an average wind speed of 7.8 m/s Elsam has

estimated the annual production of the turbine at

7,800 MWh (at Grid). When taking the energy con-

tent of the wind for the production of the second year

into consideration, it corresponds to a production of

8,500 MWh in a normal wind year, i.a. approximate-

ly 9 % larger production than estimated” says Axel

A. Petersen, project development management Wind

at the utility Elsam A/S. At the moment, the turbine

is even outperforming more powerful turbines in the

same test field.

Since connecting the 2.3 MW turbine to the grid

in June 2003, Nordex has been testing and conti-

nuously optimizing all the components used in the

turbine as well as its overall response under realistic

maritime weather conditions. Thus, in the past few

months, the pilot turbine’s pitch and gearbox, among

other things, have been modified to steadily in-

crease availability. “The availability of the turbine

has been continuously above 95 % in the second year.

In general we are very pleased with the design, qua-

lity and function of the turbine. Also the installation

of the emergency diesel generator ensures a fast and

flawless restart of the turbine“, resumes Axel A.

Petersen of Elsam.

Nordex has been plowing all the experience gai-

ned from the offshore pilot turbine into optimizing

its N80/2500 kW and N90/2300 kW onshore turbines

as well as the development of maritime versions of

these models. Nordex’s head of development

Dr. Eberhard Voss is satisfied with the performance

of the N90 in Denmark: “With the progress made

with the N90 range in Frederikshavn, we are able to

offer our customers even more efficient multimega-

watt wind turbines. In fact, we will be unveiling a

new-generation of the N90 with a greater installed

capacity at the Husumwind fair in September 2005”.

Nordex N90 Offshorewith top Performance

Non-stop Performance in Denmark:

“We are very pleased with

the design, quality and

function of the turbine”,

Elsam A/S.

Annual energy yield exceeding expectations by 9 %.


Capacity of over 120 MW alreadyinstalled

The N90 – a top Seller in Portugal:

Mountainous regions no obstacle for the N90.

Excellent wind conditions, high demand for ener-

gy and long-term investment security thanks to

guaranteed feed-in remuneration offer ideal condi-

tions for a sustained boom in wind energy in Portu-

gal. Thus, the N90 turbine produced by German tur-

bine maker Nordex has evolved into a best seller. In

total, Nordex has already installed over 120 MW with

turbines of its product program.

Not far from Viana do Castelho in the North West

of the country, Nordex completed Carreço, the first

turnkey wind farm comprising N90 turbines. Further

farms have been built at Chaminé (three N90s), Chao

Falcao near Lisbon (15 N90s) and Achada in the west

of the country (three N90s).

The excellent wind conditions - particularly at

locations on mountain ridges - make Portugal an ideal

country for wind energy. Thus, the Carreço wind farm

is located at an altitude of 500 meters in the Carreço

and Santa Luzia mountains in the North West of the

country. With average wind speeds of 8 m/s at a hub

height of 80 meters, the farm has a capacity of

20.7 megawatts and an annual yield of around

64,500 MW/h.

The N90/2300 kW turbine has been specially

designed for such medium wind speed locations.

With a nominal output of 2.3 megawatts, the turbi-

ne has a relatively large rotor of a dimension of 90

meters, allowing it to generate high output at medi-

um wind speeds. What is more, all the N90 turbines

which Nordex installs in Portugal are the hot-clima-

te ver-sion. Thanks to its additional ventilation and

cooling components, this version, which has alrea-

dy been used successfully with smaller turbines,

ensures constant temperatures inside the turbine in

spite of high external temperatures. “The particular

advantage for customers in Portugal as well as in

other countries is, that they can be assured of recei-

ving proven technical quality and reliability which

has been demonstrated over many years,” says

Carsten Pedersen, responsible for sales and marke-

ting at Nordex.

Nordex uses “split assembly” for the purposes

of erecting the heavy turbines with their 45 meter

long rotor blades in the mountainous regions of Por-

tugal. In other words, the nacelle and drive line of

the turbine are transported separately and assemb-

led at hub height at the construction site. The main

advantage is the reduced maximum hook load, per-

mitting the deployment of lighter transport vehicles

and smaller cranes. Such cranes are more readily

available in Portugal than, for example, large 800-

ton cranes and allow swifter completion of the wind

farm. In this way, it is possible to erect large turbi-

nes even in remote mountainous regions without

the need for large cranes. The advantage for custo-

mers is that the wind farm is completed on schedu-

le. Thus, the steep roads to the high-altitude plateaus

on which the numerous Nordex N90 wind farms are

located did not pose any problems in spite of the

16 % ascents in some cases and wet and slippery

roads.

The mountain ridges make

Portugal an ideal country

for wind energy.


Repowering – aMarket with aFuture in Germany?

Potential for new Installations:

Economic advantages

In Germany, the first wind turbines were installed

back in the early nineties. These early turbines were

located in the coastal regions along the North and

Baltic Sea with their favorable wind conditions. As

work on developing wind turbines continued, suita-

ble locations away from the coast were also increa-

singly discovered and utilized. Today, there is a gro-

wing trend in favor of non-coastal sites for new wind

turbines. Whereas the growth of wind power in the

windy regions of Northern Germany has slowed, other

locations with less favorable wind conditions are

steadily gaining appeal thanks to the availability of

highly efficient turbines.

However, repowering may offer potential for new

installations in Northern Germany. This involves

replacing older wind turbines with new, highly effi-

cient multi-megawatt ones. A modern turbine with

an installed capacity of 1.5 – 2.5 MW can replace many

smaller turbines by offering the same output. This

primarily affects turbines constructed 7 – 15 years

ago which mostly belong to the first generation. With

an average installed output of around 150–600 kW,

such older turbines are for the most part located at

the first sites developed for wind energy Germany,

i. e. primarily in the Northern German states with

their windy conditions.

The 45 meter blade

ensures a high

energy yield.


In addition to improved economic efficiency,

customers gain proven technology which is tech-

nically solid and has demonstrated its reliability over

many years. Of Nordex’s range, the N90 turbine with

an output of 2,500 kW is ideally suited for windy con-

ditions as it generates the highest possible annual

energy density measured in terms of power gene-

rated per square meter. This means lower investment

costs and greater reliability. To date, Nordex has

installed around 200 turbines of its N80/N90 fami-

lies. In European countries outside Germany,

Nordex AG’s key international customers include

BP, Nuon, EDF, TotalFinaElf, Airtricity and Fred Olsen

Renewables.

Theoretically, repowering could account for

around 8 –10 % of new installations in the German

market in 2007. This is based on the fact that to date

roughly 3,000 wind turbines with an output of less

than 800 kW have been installed in Germany.

Given the technical and economic advances made

in enhancing the efficiency of wind turbines, many

operators find that it is viable to replace the small

turbines installed many years ago with the latest

high-output models. In this way, it is possible to boost

the economic efficiency of the wind farm substanti-

ally. Depending on the location of the wind farm,

substantial increases in output can be achieved by

using a smaller number of larger turbines. On the

one hand, the greater hub heights generate greater

energy yields. On the other, the electricity produc-

tion costs have dropped sharply over the past few

years.

However, it should be noted that with repowe-

ring projects it is frequently necessary to go through

the same procedure for obtaining official permits as

applies to new projects even though the turbines

have been performing their work at the site for many

years. On top of this, new maximum height limits

are impeding the replacement of old turbines with

more efficient ones. Although such factors are cur-

rently proving to be an obstacle, time is working in

favor of repowering thanks to the continuing advan-

ces being made in improving turbine efficiency and

the growing aging of small turbines.

Each meter tower height

corresponds to approx. 1%

more energy yield.

ı AsiaWINDPOWERUPDATE18

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Nordex substantially reinforced its

position in the German wind ener-

gy market in the first half of 2005. Hol-

ding 8% of the market, it now ranks

fourth in the number of new construc-

tions. All told, Nordex installed a capa-

city of 40.9 MW comprising 15 S70/S77

and eight N90 turbines. In the first few

months of the year the number of new

constructions in Germany is lower than

in the second half for seasonal reasons.

During this period, Nordex exported

more than half of its output, installing

wind farms in Portugal and Estonia.

20 Turbines for China

Robust Turbines including cold-climate Version:

Huafu repeatedly relying on Nordex technology.

Nordex has reported favorable business for

wind turbines in the Far East for the first half of

2005. In fact, at the moment, it is building twenty

N60/1300 kW turbines for the Chinese customer

Helongjiang Huafu Investment Group. As a result, it

is continuing to widen its international profile suc-

cessfully in the important Chinese market.

Located in the province of Helongjiang, the Muling

wind farm promises excellent yields as it is located

in a mountainous region in the North East of the

country in one of the windiest regions in China close

to the Russian border. Average annual wind speeds

of 7.9 m/s have been measured here. The twenty

Nordex turbines with a rotor diameter of 60 meters

are fitted with blades produced by the company its-

elf. Certified for strong-wind regions, the turbines

have been specifically engineered to withstand the

gale-force winds in Helongjiang. At the same time,

they are fitted with special “cold climate” technolo-

gy for permafrost regions and are configured to hand-

le cold winters with temperatures dropping to as low

as minus 44 degrees. The mean annual temperatu-

re in Helongjiang is just 3.7 °C.

With a total of 20 turbines and a nominal output

of 26 megawatts, the Muling project is already the

second wind farm which Nordex has constructed for

Huafu in China. It will be joining 20 N43/600 kW tur-

bines in Helongjiang province, which have been in

operation since 2003.

China is one of Nordex’s most important export

markets. Steady and powerful breezes blow in from

the desert regions in the province of Xinjiang along

the North Western border across the Mongolian step-

pes to the coastal regions in the South East. Accor-

ding to one study, China has theoretical wind power

availability of 250,000 megawatts, making it one of

the largest potential markets in the world.

The N60 – a robust

turbine for windy

regions.

Germany – New Installations in the first Half of 2005


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Anew legislative bill governing the

development of renewable energy

in France will offer project developers,

investors and banks greater planning

security in the future. Thus, the minimum

or maximum sizes for planned wind

farms are to be abolished, meaning that

the 12 MW limit currently in force will

also disappear. In addition, the depart-

ments will be zoning priority regions for

wind farms. To qualify for the statutory

feed-in remuneration, wind farms must

be located in the “zones de développe-

ment de l'éolien“ defined by the prefects.

For this purpose, the local governments

will be able to propose priority regions.

However, the prefect must then make a

decision with respect to the zoning of this

region no later than six months after

receiving the proposal. This decision is

made on the basis of wind potential, grid

compatibility and environmental and

conversation considerations.

Egypt – – – 105 – – – – – – –

Australia 1 – 3 – – – – – – – –

Belarus – – 1 – – – – – – – –

China – 16 16 160 – 12 – 16 – – –

Denmark 21 10 – 35 – 59 – 52 – – 2

Germany 97 24 76 113 51 23 160 353 339 29 17

Estonia – – – – – – – – – – 8

Finland – – – – – – – 3 – – –

France – – 1 47 – 10 – 24 – 10 –

Greece – – 1 37 – 8 – – – – –

United Kingdom – – – 3 – 6 – 28 – 20 –

Holland – – – 4 – 6 – – – 23 –

India 79 6 178 – – – – – – – –

Ireland – – – – – – – 4 – 10 –

Israel – 1 – – – – – – – – –

Italy – – – – – 2 – – – – –

Japan 2 – 4 7 – 3 – 29 – 2 –

Canada – – – – – – – 20 – – –

Columbia – – – – – – – 15 – – –

Lativa – – – – – – 7 – – – –

Luxemburg – – – – – – 2 – – – –

Norway – – – – – – – – – 16 –

Austria 1 – 5 – – – – 3 – – –

Poland – – 1 – – – – – – – –

Portugal – – – – – 3 – 32 – – 34

Russia – – 3 – – – – – – – –

Sweden – – – 1 – – – – – – –

Spain – – – 25 – – – 15 – – –

Syria 1 – – – – – – – – – –

Hungary – – 1 – – – – – – – –

Uruguay 1 – – – – – – – – – –

USA – – 1 1 – – 10 12 – – –

Total 203 57 291 538 51 132 179 606 339 110 59

Capacity (MW) 30,45 14,25 72,75 322,80 33,00 105,60 179,00 787,80 508,5 275 135,7

Total installed Wind Turbines: 2.565 Total installed capacity (MW): 2.464,85 August 1st, 2005

Worldwide InstallationsCountry Installed Wind Turbines

N27/150 N27/250 N29/250 N43/600 S46/600 N50/800 N54/1000 N60/1300 S70/1500 N80/2500 N90/2300S46/750 N62/1300 S77/1500

France – Abolition of the 12 MW Maximum

ı Adressen

Nordex AG

Bornbarch 2

22848 Norderstedt – Germany

Tel.: +49 40 50 09 81 00

Fax: +49 40 50 09 81 01

E-Mail: [email protected]

Nordex Energy GmbH

Erich Schlesinger Strasse 50

18059 Rostock – Germany

Tel.: +49 38 14 02 03 00

Fax: +49 38 14 02 03 39


Vertrieb Nordex Energy GmbH

Bornbarch 7

22848 Norderstedt – Germany

Tel.: +49 40 500 98 490

Fax: +49 40 500 98 491


Nordex Energy GmbH

C. F. Tietgensvej 10

6000 Kolding, Denmark

Tel.: +45 75 73 44 00

Fax: +45 75 73 41 47


Nordex France SAS

1, Rue de la Procession

93217 La Plaine Saint-Denis – France

Tel.: +33 155 93 43 43

Fax: +33 155 93 43 40


Nordex Ibérica SA

Carrer de Guitard, 43, 7° 2a

08014 Barcelona – Spain

Tel.: +34 93 20 57 899

Fax: +34 93 20 57 903


Nordex Hellas L.L.C.

Thrakis 13

14561 Kifissa – Greece

Tel.: +30 210 80 89 977

Fax: +30 210 80 89 978


Nordex Italia s. r. l.

Via della Repubblica 68

50032 Borgo San Lorenzo (FI)

Tel.: +39 055 84 507 00

Fax: +39 055 84 507 99

E-mail: [email protected]

Nordex UK Ltd.

The Old Coach House

820 Wilmslow Road

Didsbury M20 2RN

United Kingdom

Tel.: +44 161 445 9900

Fax: +44 161 445 9988


China

Nordex Beijing

Room 6c

Tower A, Star City,

No.10 Jiuxianqiao Road,

Chaoyang District, Beijing 100016

P. R. China

Phone: +86 10 64 33 64 77

Fax: +86 10 64 33 68 55


We are represented with offices

and subsidiaries worldwide.

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