WindEnergy Hamburg, from September 23rd to 26th, is the meeting place for experts from the energy industry from all parts of the world. Some 1,000 exhibitors from the global wind industry present their innovations, new technologies and services during the four days of WindEnergy Hamburg. This new leading international event reflects the whole of the value chain, onshore and offshore. Its premiere in Hamburg includes many companies that are active in the North American wind market. In addition, the US companies have their own national pavilion, where AWEA will provide information on current market opportunities.
 
Wind turbines with a total capacity of some 61,000 MW were installed in the US (status end of 2013), all of them onshore. The United States has a huge onshore and offshore wind resource, but the country’s past market focus has been almost exclusively on exploiting onshore wind.

However, with the 468 MW Cape Wind offshore project for which Siemens will supply 130, 3.6 MW turbines now fully permitted and financed and more projects planned, this picture is about to change. The Energy Department announced early May the selection of three further demonstration projects. These will be innovative, grid-connected systems operating in federal and state waters off the coast of New Jersey, Oregon, and Virginia by 2017, and will speed up the deployment of more efficient technologies.

Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said on the development: “Offshore wind offers a large, untapped energy resource for the United States that can create thousands of manufacturing, construction and supply chain jobs across the country and drive billions of dollars in local economic investment.”
 
A recent comprehensive study points at current US offshore wind manufacturing weaknesses in multiple areas including the lack of large-scale casting and forging capabilities. Boosting offshore wind on the other hand offers major opportunities for US manufacturing including through teaming up with international partners via joint ventures, licensing, technology-sharing partnerships and otherwise.
 
The Production Tax Credit (PTC) scheme was again allowed to expire at the end of 2013 in what has become a familiar pattern of long-time US wind market ‘boom or bust’ cycles. But this did not cause billionaire Warren Buffett, chairman and CEO of investment company Berkshire Hathaway, to lose his faith in the future of wind power.

Bloomberg Businessweek reported that he said this June at the Edison Electric Institute’s annual convention in Las Vegas about the US$15 billion he has already committed in solar and wind in the US: “There’s another $15 billion ready to go, as far as I’m concerned.”

Leading wind turbine supplier GE will inform Hamburg visitors about the latest product offerings including the 2.75-120 with 139-metre lattice-steel Space Frame Tower for IEC class III sites, and the integrated battery-storage option. Additional technology offerings include dedicated software applications for optimizing plant level based power output. Visitors to WindEnergy Hamburg 2014 will find plenty more international turbine manufacturers that are also active in the US market, including Alstom, Nordex, Senvion, Vensys (Goldwind) and Vestas. Experts from the US can not only find out about the best innovations in the market, but also get an overview of scientific progress and industrial know-how.
 
Various US-based exhibitors highlight the prominent role of advanced control and measuring systems. NRG Systems presents a portfolio of sensors, data loggers and towers used for wind project measuring campaigns, while MTS Systems displays its capabilities in (position) sensing and advanced testing solutions. Another US specialist Vaisala offers the wind industry conventional and ultrasonic wind speed and wind direction sensors. The company will also inform visitors on a combined wind speed and wind direction device, available with optional heating for cold-climate application. Flash Technology develops aviation obstruction lighting solutions since 1969 and displays in the US Pavilion the latest integrated LED-based lighting system with integrated controller for wind turbine mounting.
 
WindEnergy Hamburg is the showcase for all companies active in the international scene, and for current and emerging national markets. The great international interest is demonstrated by the presence of globally operating turbine manufacturers. Leading companies from all relevant market segments will be there – planners, manufacturers, equipment suppliers, financial service providers, operators, energy supply companies, and service providers. Alongside the key players, small and medium-sized enterprises from all parts of the value chain will also be exhibiting in Hamburg.
 
Altogether, the companies, institutions and industry associations exhibiting here come from more than 30 countries. There will be more than 15 national pavilions, each of them bringing together wind energy companies from a specific country for shared activities to provide information on their product portfolio. They include presentations from European markets from Denmark to Turkey. From outside of Europe, there are presentations of the wind energy markets in Canada, Argentina, Japan, Korea, Bangladesh and China. In addition, there will be numerous visitor delegations making use of the extensive information and international networking opportunities at the expo.
 
The synergies with SMM Hamburg, the leading global maritime industry show, enable experts from the wind industry to generate new leads in new fields of business. Many companies of the shipbuilding industry that are exhibiting at SMM Hamburg from September 9th to 12th will also be at WindEnergy Hamburg. A key point for the success of the Energiewende (Germany’s Energy Transition) is the storage of wind energy. A “Storage Tour” will take interested visitors to all exhibitors involved in this subject.
 
WindEnergy Hamburg
www.windenergyhamburg.com | www.husumwind.com