[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ module_class=”reverse-columns-mobile” _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” custom_margin=”||0px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”||15px||false|false” custom_margin_phone=”” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|tablet” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Credits: istockphoto\/Francis Lavigne-Theriault, Enercon GmbH[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.20.2″ custom_padding=”0px||||false|false” bottom_divider_style=”waves2″ bottom_divider_color=”#DFE6EE” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_row column_structure=”2_3,1_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_column type=”2_3″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]Whether a hurricane or flooding, the effects of climate change are being felt increasingly frequently. This also applies to companies like Enercon \u2013 a pioneer in wind energy technology that specialises in the development, manufacture, distribution and servicing of onshore wind turbines. \u201cAs a company, we\u2019re no different to any other citizen, as climate change is affecting our daily lives, our actions and our business model,\u201d explains Enercon Group spokesperson Felix Rehwald.<\/p>\n
This also has a political dimension that influences Enercon\u2019s business. \u201cThe ambitious targets set by politicians for the expansion of renewable energies, wind and onshore are leading to the designation of more new areas and to easier repowering. This, in turn, is boosting the wind industry and increasing our incoming orders,\u201d he continues. \u201cIt\u2019s an issue for our product development, too, as we might have to adapt the design or configuration of certain turbine types in the medium and long term.\u201d<\/p>\n
The company receives the data required for this from service providers, or it collects it \u2013 such as wind direction, strength, gust intensity, precipitation and humidity \u2013 via its own turbines. Enercon also takes wind and weather forecasts into account when planning new wind farm locations and then works with additional simulation tools and software to optimise the design of the wind farms to the local conditions.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/EC_E-175-EP5-prototype-B-E_Still-2024-4C_Portrait02_800.jpg” alt=”A new lifting device is used to install the rotor blades. This device uses two propellers to grip the rotor blades and automatically holds them in position during the installation process.” title_text=”EC_E-175-EP5-prototype-B-E_Still-2024-4C_Portrait02_800″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]A new lifting device is used to install the rotor blades. This device uses two propellers to grip the rotor blades and automatically holds them in position during the installation process.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
\u201cClimate change has long since influenced wind farm planning,\u201d Rehwald states. For example, stability tests in northern Germany are now set higher than was usual in the past due to extreme winds (gusts). \u201cThis is due to the increase in extreme wind events,\u201d he emphasises. Consequently, the German Institute for Construction Technology\u2019s (DIBt) wind zones have also shifted with the boundary of wind zone 4, which has the highest wind speed, now running further south than before. The certifiers have also adapted their guidelines accordingly.<\/p>\n
However, climate change poses no new risks to existing facilities. \u201cThey\u2019re generally designed to be robust and have the appropriate reserves,\u201d says Rehwald. Plus, facility monitoring and control ensure that they are automatically throttled back during extreme weather.<\/p>\n
All the company\u2019s wind turbines are equipped with a storm control system as standard. \u201cWhen the wind picks up, the turbine continuously regulates this by reducing the angle at which the rotor blades are set to the wind. This can go as far as the blades being fully retracted from the wind \u2013 referred to as the \u2018feathered position\u2019, where the rotor blades no longer experience any lift and the turbine only spins.\u201d<\/p>\n
The wind speed at which the turbine is down-regulated depends on its type. \u201cFor our new top model, the \u2018E-175 EP5\u2019, which has a rated output of 6 to
\n6.3 megawatts, the cut-out speed is 25 metres per second, for example,\u201d explains Rehwald. \u201cThe extreme wind speed at hub height \u2013 a three-second gust \u2013 is 59.5 metres per second for this type of turbine.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the company, quantifying how much the work of the service and project planning teams has increased due to more severe and frequent gales and strong wind events is not possible. What is certain, however, is that the increase in strong-wind days has not impacted the product portfolio, for example the size of the turbines. \u201cWe offer our customers products for all wind situations, i.e. for strong-wind locations, such as on the Mediterranean islands of Greece, for medium-wind locations such as in northern and central Germany, and for weak-wind locations in southern Germany,\u201d Rehwald continues. Accordingly, the range of products, tower variants and hub heights are extensive.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/www.logistics-pilot.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/EKF-20211001-0053_4C_Portrait03_800.jpg” alt=”More frequent storms put a considerable additional strain on the plant and challenge service and project planning teams.” title_text=”EKF-20211001-0053_4C_Portrait03_800″ _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ text_font=”roboto-regular||||||||” text_text_color=”#003a7c” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]More frequent storms put a considerable additional strain on the plant and challenge service and project planning teams.[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\n
One thing is also clear \u2013 climate change is making installation planning more complex for the construction teams. \u201cWith more windy days during the installation phase, \u2018wind windows\u2019 with little wind or no wind at all have to be used very effectively in order to install wind-prone components, such as rotor blades, without delay,\u201d Rehwald explains. After all, costs are still incurred if the weather prevents installation work from being carried out. <\/p>\n
The wind speed up to which work can be carried out on the construction site depends on the type of work and the technology used, in particular the available crane technology. \u201cUltimately, it\u2019s up to the on-site site manager to decide at what wind speed work must be stopped,\u201d reports Rehwald. <\/p>\n
Enercon relies on the use of new technologies on construction sites. \u201cFor example, a new lifting device is used to install the rotor blades. This device uses two propellers to grip the rotor blades and automatically holds them in position during the installation process,\u201d Rehwald continues. These propellers can compensate for higher wind speeds and stabilise the rotor blades better than was previously possible using the guide ropes guided from the ground. This allows the rotor blades to be installed at wind speeds of up to ten metres per second \u2013 previously, the limit was usually eight metres per second. <\/p>\n
Moreover, adapting to climate change is part of the company\u2019s sustainability strategy. \u201cWe\u2019re working on this strategy because climate change is real,\u201d Rehwald explains. \u201cWe don\u2019t just want to develop green products, but also use them in order to conserve the environment and resources as far as possible.\u201d \b(cb)<\/em><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_3″ module_class=”dtb-sticky” _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_7″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Startseite \/ Artikel” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_sidebar area=”et_pb_widget_area_9″ show_border=”off” admin_label=”Werbung Artikel” _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_sidebar][et_pb_blurb title=”Facts” admin_label=”Fakten” _builder_version=”4.18.0″ header_font=”|||on|||||” header_text_color=”#ffffff” header_font_size=”16px” text_orientation=”center” custom_margin=”50px||20px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”25px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_css_blurb_title=”display: inline-block!important;||background: #002754!important;||padding: 5px 13px 3px 13px!important;||position: relative!important;” border_width_bottom=”1px” border_color_bottom=”#002754″ global_colors_info=”{}” header_text_color__hover_enabled=”on|desktop” header_text_color__hover=”rgba(255,255,255,0.71)” theme_builder_area=”post_content”][\/et_pb_blurb][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.27.0″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}” theme_builder_area=”post_content”]<\/p>\nEnercon<\/h4>\n