Deutsche Windtechnik: Strengthening cooperation

Two aspects are particularly important here: Increased competition is expected to improve cost-efficiency and it should also become easier to control the number of new installations. “The cost pressure is passed on to manufacturers and service providers in particular,” said Matthias Brandt, Board Member at Deutsche Windtechnik AG, adding: “As an independent maintenance service provider, we need to prepare for these changes meticulously and creatively.”

Cost pressure unleashes creativity

Cost-efficiency inevitably puts pressure on operating costs. If you break the operating costs down into service (maintenance, repair, inspection, improvement), lease payments, technical and commercial management, insurance costs and miscellaneous operating costs, it becomes clear that service has to be part of the solution. According to current calculations, it accounts for about 45% of operating costs during the first ten years and about 55% during the last ten years. “In European markets, we are observing a range of approaches for handling the pressure and still remaining economically viable,” Matthias Brandt explained. “This requires clear, efficient cooperation between operators, plant managers, service companies, OEMs and other market participants.”

The amount of risk that operators and investors are willing to accept plays a major role. Important questions about the general direction as well as the extent of cooperation need to be clarified as early as the initial contract negotiations (from purchasing of equipment to service agreements). Large operators tend either to build up their own service capacities or stock of spare parts and large components or they collaborate with strong partners. It is time to start thinking about new approaches. “Widely accepted ideas regarding purchasing, installation, commissioning, guarantees, warranties and service agreements – including during the warranty period – need to be reassessed and weighed up,” said Matthias Brandt. “The point is that the customer is purchasing a product and should be allowed to decide how to organise his operations conceptually, from installation to dismantling.” This dynamic means manufacturers need to make concessions. “Some of them have yet to accept the fact that ownership of the product is transferred to the customer after payment of the purchase price. Yet in the case of other OEMs, we see them becoming more open. They are beginning to understand that competition, transparency and flexibility in the design of the operational concept provide real advantages for plant operation and distribution,” concluded Matthias Brandt.

Bringing market players together

In the sense of standardisation and harmonisation too, bringing market players together is one way of streamlining organisational structures. As a result, projects would have fewer, yet higher quality partners. Interfaces would be reduced and overall efficiency increased. However, in order to achieve this, market players will have to concede some of their cherished privileges and areas of work. The market needs multiple participants, but it also needs a reduction in interfaces. Not a contradiction, but a challenge.

DEUTSCHE WINDTECHNIK Launches Service in Sweden: Ten Vestas Systems Under Maintenance Contract

Deutsche Windtechnik has received an order for operation and maintenance regarding ten wind turbines in the Ventosum site in Falkenberg in the south of Sweden.

The turbines of the type Vestas V47 are administered by Ventosum AB in Falkenberg, one of Sweden’s most well-known wind farms. It once was the largest wind farm in Sweden. The agreement clearly shows the will to establish a new competitive service company in Sweden.

“We believe that when a company like Deutsche Windtechnik expands its service in Scandinavia, it is a long term commitment that benefits not only us as customers but also the entire wind power industry”, says Per Carlson, CEO of Ventosum AB.

Linus Sturesson, CEO of Deutsche Windtechnik AB, adds: “Since the wind farm is close to Deutsche Windtechnik’s first service station in Varberg, we have been able to guarantee very short reaction times along with competitive prices which customers obviously appreciate.”