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Enercon

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Enercon GmbH is a wind turbine manufacturer based in Aurich, Lower Saxony, Germany. It has been the market leader in Germany since the mid-1990s.[1] Enercon has production facilities in Germany (Aurich, Emden and Magdeburg), Brazil, India, Canada, Turkey and Portugal. In June 2010, Enercon announced that they would be setting up Irish headquarters in Tralee.[2]

Enercon GmbH
Company typeGmbH
IndustryWind power industry
Founded1984 (1984)
FounderAloys Wobben
Headquarters
Aurich
,
Germany
Key people
Udo Bauer
ProductsWind turbines
OwnerAloys Wobben Foundation
Number of employees
~18,000
Websitewww.enercon.de

The Aloys-Wobben-foundation of founder Aloys Wobben is owning the UEE Holding, which owns the Enercon GmbH. Aloys Wobben, Simon Wobben and Hans-Dieter Kettwich control the company.[3]

As of December 2017, Enercon had installed more than 26,300 wind turbines, with a power generating capacity exceeding 43 GW.[4] The most-often installed model is the E-40, which pioneered the gearbox-less design in 1993.[5] As of July 2011, Enercon has a market share of 7.2% world-wide (fifth-highest) and 59.2% in Germany.[6]

Enercon Headquarters in Aurich
E-Ship 1 leaving Dieppe

Company structure

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Aloys Wobben founded the Aloys-Wobbe-Stiftung. The foundations owns the UEE Holding, which Enercon belongs to.

Over 30 supply companys exclusively work for Enercon. In 2018 some of them like WEC Turmbau Emden, WEC Turmbau Magdeburg and Aero Ems GmbH announced, that they would fire employees, in total 800 workes.[7] Enercon declraed these companys would be completely independend.

In fact, the companies belong to the "Grp Aloys B A Wobben Breeze Trust" based in Luxembourg and the British Virgin Islands through nested ownership structures. At the time, the NDR assumed that the structure was set up so that Aloys Wobben could skim off his profits but not have to make any social obligations to his employees.[3]

History

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In 1984 Aloys Wobben founded a wind turbine manufacturer called Enercon in Aurich by developing and producing wind turbines with three employees. In 1993, Wobben switched production to the gearless wind turbine with a full converter; a Technology that he had developed. The Enercon E-40 turbine met expectations and was gained worldwide success.

Wobben withdrew from the operational business in 2012 and transferred his company shares to the Aloys-Wobben Foundation with effect from 1 October 2012. Since 2016 his neff Simon Wobben is part of the managing team.

On 24 February 2022, the day of the Russian full scale invasion of Ukraine, the remote maintenance units of 5,800 Enercon wind turbines were affected by a suspected Russian cyber attack on the satellite system operator Viasat and had to be replaced.[8]

According to Forbes, Aloys Wobben had a net worth of $7.1 billion as of August 2021.

Technologies

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Enercon wind turbines have some special technical features compared to turbines of most other manufacturers. Characteristic is the gearless propulsion concept, which Enercon pioneered since 1993. The first generation of gearless turbines was the E-40/500 kW series. (Earlier Enercon designs had a transmission train.) The hub with the rotor blades connects directly to the rotor of the ring generator (direct drive). The rotor unit rotates on a front and rear main bearing about a fixed axis. The speed of the rotor is transmitted directly to the high-pole synchronous generator, where the rotor rotates in the stator, differently. The Enercon generator has no permanent magnets, allowing the company to not rely on rare-earth metals. However, the direct connection also causes grid losses. Rotation speed and the mechanical load changes over the service life are lower than geared systems. Rotation speed varies from 18 to 45 revolutions per minute (RPM) for the E-33 and 5-11.7 RPM for the E-126 depending on wind speed, while a geared generator has a speed of about 1500 RPM at rated power. Thus the large Enercon generators lead to high tower head masses, and construction and logistical challenges. In 2022, the first integrated box-shaped nacelles with inverter and transformer reduced logistics - all previous Enercon turbines had power systems in the tower base.[9]

Most Enercon systems are visually distinct from systems of other manufacturers. Their nacelles have been drop-shaped since 1995/1996. This unique design was developed by British architect Norman Foster, who also designed the dome of the Berlin Reichstag. In Germany and many other countries, the tower has coloured green rings above the foundation, which get brighter from bottom to top. On islands such as Borkum, the gradation is blue. The NCS grading is intended to better integrate the plant towers into the horizon. The rotor blades were the only ones on the market with blade tips similar to the winglets on aircraft.[5][10][11][12]

In 2008, the first E-126 turbines (successor of the E-112) were installed at sites throughout Germany and Belgium, including the Estinnes wind farm (consisting of eleven E-126 turbines) in Belgium.[13] Although the E-126 turbine was initially developed with a power rating of 6 MW, it has since been upgraded to 7.5 MW. The E-82 turbine was also upgraded and is available in 2, 2.3, and 3 MW versions.[14]

Currently Enercon does not offer or supply wind turbines to offshore projects and has at times expressed skepticism about offshore wind parks.[15][16] Enercon was rumored to have been ready to supply turbines to Germany's Alpha Ventus offshore wind farm and to a near-shore park near Wilhelmshaven but did not do so.[17]

Turbines

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Note: wind turbine designations with a "*" mean the turbine either temporarily unavailable, or has been taken off sale permanently.

Model Number Rated Power Output (based on variant) Variants Rotor Diameter (meters) Hub Height (meters) Notes Source(s) Number installed
E-10/E-12* 30 kW 0.3.10, 0.3.12 10 Developed in 2007, but unknown whether it's still being produced. 3
E-15/16* 55 kW 0.55.15, 0.55.16 15/16 Developed 1984, no longer available [5][18][19] 46
E-17/E-18* 80 kW 0.8.17, 0.8.18 17/18 Developed and installed 1988, no longer available [5][20] 158
E-30* 300-330 kW 3.30 30, 33 50 Gearless direct-drive, discontinued due to "low demand" [21] 660, 576 (Original), 84 (revised)
E-32/33* 100-300 kW 1.32, 3.32, 1.33, 3.33 32, 33.4 34, 35, 41, 47 Geared turbines, replaced by E-30 DD model
1st generation E-33 		[22][23] ? [citation needed]
E-40 500 kW, 600 kW 5.40, 6.44 40, 44.5 First gearless drive, no longer available [5][24][25] 5879 total (1887 original, 3992 revised)
E-44 900 kW 9.44 45 45, 55 [5][26] 563
E-48 800 kW 8.48 48 50, 55, 56, 60, 65, 76 [5][26] 1878
E-53 800 kW 8.53 52.9 60, 73 Prototype developed 2006 [5][26] 1240
E-58* 1 MW 10.58 58 Prototype installed in 1998 - replaced by E-48, henceforth no longer available 225
E-66* 1.5 MW, 1.8 MW, 2.0 MW 15.66, 15.70, 18.66, 18.70, 20.70 66 & 70 Prototype developed 1995, no longer available - replaced by E-70, E-82 and E-92 2486
E-70 2.0 MW, 2.3 20.71, 23.71 71 57, 58, 64, 70, 74.5, 84, 98, 113 Direct drive [5][26] 4360
E-82 2 MW, 2.3 MW, 3MW 20.82, 23.82, 30.82 82 78, 84, 98, 108 Direct drive [5][26] 3146
E-92 2.35 MW 24.92 92 84, 98, 108, 138 Direct drive
 [27] ~ 250 [citation needed]
E-101 3 MW 101 99, 124, 135, 149 Direct drive
Prototype installed June 2011 		[5][26] ~1500 [citation needed]
E-103 EP2 2.35 MW 24.103 (EP2) 103 98 or 138 Direct drive - two prototypes installed in France in 2017 2 [citation needed]
E-112* 4.5 MW, 6 MW 60.114, 45.114 112 & 114 108, 124 Replaced by E-126, no longer available [5][28][29] 9
E-115 2.5 MW, 3.0 MW 25.115, 30.115 115 92.5-149 Direct drive [27] ? [citation needed]
E-126 6.0 MW, 7.58 MW 60.126, 76.126 126 135 Prototype developed October 2007 [5][26] 95 as of autumn 2016
E-126 EP3 3.5 MW, 4.0 35.126 EP3, 40.126 EP3 126 86, 116, or 135 Based on a different platform to other Enercon turbines [30] 1 near Kirch Muslow
E-136 EP5 4.65MW 47.136 (EP5) 136 109, 120, 132 Based on Lagerwey's turbine platform 13 Installed in Eemshaven port in the Netherlands
E-138 EP3 3.5MW, 4.0MW

4.2MW

35.138 (EP3), 40.138 (EP3) 138 81, 111, 131, or 160 Based on a different platform to other Enercon turbines [31] 300+ (Estimated)
E-126 EP4 4.2MW 4.2 MW 42.126 (EP4) 126 135 Designed for low-wind sites [32] [32]
E-141 EP4 4.2MW 4.2 MW 42.141 (EP4) 141 129 or 159 Prototype installed, Number unknown [33] TBA [citation needed]
E-147 EP5 5MW 50.147 (EP5) 147 126, 132, 143, 155 Based on Lagerwey's turbine platform 2
E-160 EP5 4.6MW 46.160 160 120, 166 Based on Lagerwey's platform 2 (3 more to be built in Germany)

Issues

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Patent dispute

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Enercon was prohibited from exporting their wind turbines to the US until 2010 due to alleged infringement of U.S. patent 5,083,039.[34][35] In a dispute before the United States International Trade Commission, Enercon did not challenge the validity of the US patent but argued that their technology was not affected. The ITC decided that the patent covered the technology in question and banned Enercon turbines from the US market until 2010.[36] Later, a cross patent agreement was made with the competitor General Electric, the successor of Kenetech, after similar claims of Enercon against GE. According to a NSA employee detailed information concerning Enercon was passed on to Kenetech via ECHELON.[37] The aim of the alleged industrial espionage against Enercon was the forwarding of details of Wobben's generator technology to a US firm.[38]

Other ventures

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From 2008 to 2020, Enercon was part owner of a railway company, that among other things owns the Abelitz–Aurich railway, (via de:Eisenbahninfrastrukturgesellschaft Aurich-Emden) which is used to deliver wind turbine blades made by Enercon via rail to customers. During the time Enercon part-owned the rail line, the company undertook large scale investments in its infrastructure[39] In 2020 Enercon sold its rail ventures To Hermann Bettels GmbH.[40]

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    E-10 at Neumayer Station III
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    E-112 at Ems Emden, Enercon's only offshore wind turbine installed to date
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    Second E-112 at Cuxhaven
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    E-70 at Green Park Business Park
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    E-66 at Swaffham's Ecotech centre, with observation deck below the nacelle
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    Brown meets green: Enercon wind turbines at oil refinery
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    E-32 on the North Sea coast
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    Enercon E-48 in the Wind Farm near the Medieval village of Tocco da Casauria in Italy
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    Wind farm with 3 Enercon E-48 in Stella, Liguria, Italy
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    Enercon E-112
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    Enercon E-82
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    Enercon E-82
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    Enercon E-101
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    Enercon E-126
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    A weaker Enercon E-126 - EP4 low-wind model - at Holdorf

Estinnes windfarm

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The 11 turbine Estinnes Wind Farm in July 2011 before completion...
 
...and in October of 2011, two months right after completion. With each turbine producing 7.58MW, the total energy output of Estinnes Windpark is 83.4MW.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Simon, Hermann: Hidden Champions of the 21st Century : Success Strategies of unknown World Market Leaders. London: Springer, 2009.- ISBN 978-0-387-98147-5
  2. ^ "55 IT and wind jobs created in Tralee". June 2010. Archived from the original on 28 March 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  3. ^ a b NDR. "Das geheime Firmengeflecht von Enercon". www.ndr.de (in German). Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Enercon at a Glance". 2011. Archived from the original on 22 July 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Enercon Chronology". 2011. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  6. ^ "Market Shares". 2011. Archived from the original on 21 May 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  7. ^ Koch, Hannes (2 August 2018). "Stellenabbau bei Enercon: 800 Wind-Jobs auf der Kippe". Die Tageszeitung: taz (in German). ISSN 0931-9085. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  8. ^ Brühl, Jannis (4 April 2022). "Krieg in der Ukraine: Angriff auf Ka-Sat 9A". Süddeutsche.de (in German). Retrieved 28 September 2024.
  9. ^ Ferry, Tim (7 April 2022). "Enercon installs turbine with power converter systems in its 'E-nacelle', rather than tower base | Recharge". Recharge | Latest renewable energy news.
  10. ^ Enercon (July 2002). "Annular generator". Archived from the original on 9 September 2015. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  11. ^ dpa (Deutsche Presse-Agentur) (July 2002). "Enercon errichtet grösstes Windrad der Welt bei Magdeburg" (in German). Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  12. ^ "REpower Systems SE: 5M" (in German). Archived from the original on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  13. ^ "The Wind Power Database: Estinnes Wind Farm". 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  14. ^ "ENERCON Wind Energy Converters, Product Overview" (PDF). 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 May 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  15. ^ "Windblatt" (PDF). March 2009. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 September 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  16. ^ "'We're not afraid of offshore, but we decided to put 150% into onshore'". Recharge. 2016 [2015]. Retrieved 23 February 2017.
  17. ^ "More MW/t, the offshore imperative.(megawatt thermal)(Enercon (Germany))". March 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  18. ^ "The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-15)". September 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  19. ^ "The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-16)". September 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  20. ^ "The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-17)". September 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  21. ^ "Enercon E-30 / 330 - 330,00 kW - Wind turbine".
  22. ^ "Enercon E-33 / 300 - 300,00 kW - Wind turbine".
  23. ^ "Enercon E-32 / 300 - 300,00 kW - Wind turbine".
  24. ^ "The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-40, 500 kW)". September 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  25. ^ "The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-40, 600 kW)". September 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g "Enercon Wind Energy Converters: Technology and Service" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 May 2012. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  27. ^ a b "Home". www.enercon.de.
  28. ^ "The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-112, 4500 kW)". September 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  29. ^ "The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-112, 6000 kW)". September 2010. Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  30. ^ "Home". Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  31. ^ "E-138 EP3". Archived from the original on 21 June 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  32. ^ a b "Home". Archived from the original on 26 May 2019. Retrieved 25 October 2018.
  33. ^ "Enercon raises the bar". 14 April 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  34. ^ "Enercon vs. International Trade Commission and Zond Energy Systems". Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  35. ^ Space Daily Staff Writers (April 2008). "The Greening of Patent Litigation". Retrieved 15 July 2011.
  36. ^ "In the matter of certain variable speed wind turbines and components thereof" (PDF). U.S. International Trade Commission. November 1996. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  37. ^ Schröm, Oliver (30 October 1999). "Verrat unter Freunden" [Treachery among friends] (in German). Die Zeit (Zeit Online). Archived from the original on 20 April 2010. Retrieved 4 May 2008.
  38. ^ "Echelon Rapport, EU Parliament" (PDF).
  39. ^ "Enercon baut eigenen Bahnhof – Ostfriesen-Zeitung".
  40. ^ "LOK Report - Enercon: Hermann Bettels GmbH & Co. KG übernimmt ENERCON-Bahngesellschaft e.g.o.o."
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