Enercon repositions itself offering 'holistic' networked solutions for green power
German premium wind turbine manufacturer also relaunches brand to go along with wider offering, including design of hybrid power plants, energy storage and grid access
Enercon is repositioning itself as a provider of connected solutions for the green energy ecosystem, beyond its traditional role as an onshore wind turbine manufacturer.
The German company’s ‘holistic approach’ aims at offering customers an expanded portfolio of products and modular solutions for the design of hybrid power plants in order to add value to their green energy projects.
“With this repositioning, we are changing from a wind turbine manufacturer that offers servicing to an active provider of solutions and an enabler for the networked green energy ecosystem, with our wind turbines on centre stage,” said Enercon CEO Udo Bauer.
“This offers us the opportunity to actively shape the next phase of the energy transition together with our customers, and to help build an integrated, interlinked renewable energy system.”
Going beyond wind includes combining diverse elements of the “green energy ecosystem” into intelligently networked solutions from power generation through storage and feeding into the grid, the CEO said, adding Enercon is open to partnerships on this path.
Enercon traditionally has offered high-quality onshore wind turbines coupled with a wide-ranging service that in its European core markets its available very fast and for long-term contracts. The OEM currently offers machines in the 4 to 7MW range.
The OEM said it is at the same time relaunching its brand and has slightly altered its company logo to one with a different font.
“The new brand identity will make our culture of openness, networking and holistic future outlook something that can be seen and experienced,” Bauer said.
“With this new brand story, we want to show that we do not just build wind turbines but also seek to help our customers to unlock the full potential of their green energy solutions – both today and in the markets of tomorrow.”
Enercon explained its repositioning with changing conditions that are making it increasingly complex and more challenging for onshore operators to generate and market green energy profitably.
As many countries are pulling out of remuneration systems with guaranteed feed-in tariffs, the green kilowatt-hour produced is becoming a commodity that is traded on the energy market and has to be profitable, it said.
Governments are now making demands on the overall economic viability of the energy system, for a more effective use of the grid infrastructure, for more constant energy production and grid feed, and for grid stabilisation and lower generation and system costs, the company added.
“The overall energy system … is now undergoing transformation – including renewable power generating units, energy storage systems, transmission and distribution networks, high-voltage substations, supply to large industrial consumers and domestic electricity customers,” Bauer said.
“To give more value to wind energy, we are incorporating this ecosystem and interlinking our solution modules in an intelligent manner.”
If desired, hybrid power plants comprising a wind farm, battery storage system and grid connection can be developed, Enercon said. The company, among other solutions, offers interlinked options (such as system monitoring, proactive maintenance, repair and spare parts management and optional protection packages for cybersecurity.
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