Enercon
{{Short description|Wind turbine manufacturer in Aurich, Germany}}
{{Expand German|Enercon|date=November 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Enercon GmbH
| logo = ENERCON logo.png
| caption =
| type = Private
| traded_as =
| fate =
| predecessor =
| successor =
| foundation = {{Sda|1984}}
| founder = Aloys Wobben
| defunct =
| location_city = Aurich
| location_country = Germany
| location =
| locations =
| area_served =
| key_people = Udo Bauer
| industry = Wind power industry
| products = Wind turbines
| services =
| revenue =
| operating_income =
| net_income =
| assets =
| equity =
| owner = Aloys Wobben Foundation
| num_employees = ~18,000
| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| homepage = {{URL|www.enercon.de}}
| footnotes =
| intl =
}}
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.Simon, Hermann: Hidden Champions of the 21st Century : Success Strategies of unknown World Market Leaders. London: Springer, 2009.- {{ISBN|978-0-387-98147-5}} 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.
{{cite web
|url=http://insideireland.ie/2010/06/01/archive3722-3782/
|title=55 IT and wind jobs created in Tralee
|date=June 2010
|access-date=15 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328031938/http://insideireland.ie/2010/06/01/archive3722-3782/
|archive-date=28 March 2012
}}
The Aloys-Wobben-foundation of founder Aloys Wobben owns the UEE Holding, which owns the Enercon GmbH. Aloys Wobben, Simon Wobben and Hans-Dieter Kettwich control the company.{{Cite web |last=NDR |title=Das geheime Firmengeflecht von Enercon |url=https://www.ndr.de/fernsehen/sendungen/panorama3/Das-geheime-Firmengeflecht-von-Enercon,enercon270.html |access-date=28 September 2024 |website=www.ndr.de |language=de}}
{{As of|2017|December}}, Enercon had installed more than 26,300 wind turbines, with a power generating capacity exceeding 43 GW.{{cite web
|url = http://www.enercon.de/en-en/85.htm
|title = Enercon at a Glance
|year = 2011
|access-date = 15 July 2011
|archive-date = 22 July 2015
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150722052716/http://www.enercon.de/en-en/85.htm
|url-status = dead
}} The most-often installed model is the E-40, which pioneered the gearbox-less design in 1993.{{cite web
|url = http://www.enercon.de/en-en/83.htm
|title = Enercon Chronology
|year = 2011
|access-date = 15 July 2011
|archive-date = 21 May 2015
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150521163958/http://www.enercon.de/en-en/83.htm
|url-status = dead
}} As of July 2011, Enercon has a market share of 7.2% worldwide (fifth-highest) and 59.2% in Germany.{{cite web
|url = http://www.enercon.de/en-en/247.htm
|title = Market Shares
|year = 2011
|access-date = 15 July 2011
|archive-date = 21 May 2015
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150521182330/http://www.enercon.de/en-en/247.htm
|url-status = dead
}}
File:Bateau enercon P9240983 part.jpg leaving Dieppe]]
Company structure
Aloys Wobben founded the Aloys-Wobbe-Stiftung. The foundation owns the UEE Holding, which Enercon belongs to.
Over 30 supply companies exclusively work for Enercon. In 2018 some of them, including WEC Turmbau Emden, WEC Turmbau Magdeburg and Aero Ems GmbH, announced that they would fire a total of 800 employees.{{Cite news |last=Koch |first=Hannes |date=2 August 2018 |title=Stellenabbau bei Enercon: 800 Wind-Jobs auf der Kippe |url=https://taz.de/Stellenabbau-bei-Enercon/!5520863/ |access-date=28 September 2024 |work=Die Tageszeitung: taz |language=de |issn=0931-9085}} Enercon declared that these companies would be completely independent.
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.
History
In 1984, 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 nephew 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.{{Cite web |last=Brühl |first=Jannis |date=4 April 2022 |title=Krieg in der Ukraine: Angriff auf Ka-Sat 9A |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/wirtschaft/hack-gegen-satellitennetzwerk-angriff-auf-ka-sat-9a-1.5560370 |access-date=28 September 2024 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de}}
According to Forbes, Aloys Wobben had a net worth of $7.1 billion as of August 2021.
Technologies
Enercon wind turbines have some special technical features compared to turbines of most other manufacturers. One 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.{{cite web |last1=Ferry |first1=Tim |title=Enercon installs turbine with power converter systems in its 'E-nacelle', rather than tower base {{!}} Recharge |url=https://www.rechargenews.com/wind/enercon-installs-turbine-with-power-converter-systems-in-its-e-nacelle-rather-than-tower-base/2-1-1197122 |website=Recharge {{!}} Latest renewable energy news |language=en |date=7 April 2022}}
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.{{cite web
|url = http://www.enercon.de/en-en/753.htm
|title = Annular generator
|author = Enercon
|date = July 2002
|access-date = 15 July 2011
|archive-date = 9 September 2015
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150909075614/http://www.enercon.de/en-en/753.htm
|url-status = dead
|url = http://www.verivox.de/nachrichten/enercon-errichtet-groesstes-windrad-der-welt-bei-magdeburg-3027.aspx
|title = Enercon errichtet grösstes Windrad der Welt bei Magdeburg
|author = dpa (Deutsche Presse-Agentur)
|date=July 2002
|language = German
|access-date = 15 July 2011}}{{cite web|url=http://www.repower.de/index.php?id=237&L=1index_flash_uk.htm
|title=REpower Systems SE: 5M
|language=de
|access-date=15 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928162424/http://www.repower.de/index.php?id=237&L=1index_flash_uk.htm
|archive-date=28 September 2011
}}
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.{{cite web
|url = http://www.thewindpower.net/wind-farm-2701.php
|title = The Wind Power Database: Estinnes Wind Farm
|year = 2011
|access-date = 15 July 2011}} 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.{{cite web
|url = http://www.enercon.de/p/downloads/EN_Productoverview_0710.pdf
|title = ENERCON Wind Energy Converters, Product Overview
|year = 2011
|access-date = 15 July 2011
|archive-date = 16 May 2011
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110516022444/http://www.enercon.de/p/downloads/EN_Productoverview_0710.pdf
|url-status = dead
}}
Currently Enercon does not offer or supply wind turbines to offshore projects and has at times expressed skepticism about offshore wind parks.{{cite web
|url = http://www.enercon.de/p/downloads/WB-0309-en.pdf
|title = Windblatt
|date = March 2009
|access-date = 15 July 2011
|archive-date = 28 September 2011
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110928163140/http://www.enercon.de/p/downloads/WB-0309-en.pdf
|url-status = dead
}}{{cite web|url= http://www.rechargenews.com/wind/868311/were-not-afraid-of-offshore-but-we-decided-to-put-150-percent-into-onshore |title='We're not afraid of offshore, but we decided to put 150% into onshore'|work=Recharge |orig-date=2015 |year=2016|access-date=23 February 2017}} 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.{{cite web
|url = http://goliath.ecnext.com/coms2/gi_0199-14882839/More-MW-t-the-offshore.html
|title = More MW/t, the offshore imperative.(megawatt thermal)(Enercon (Germany))
|date=March 2011
|access-date = 15 July 2011}}
Turbines
Note: wind turbine designations with a "*" mean the turbine is either temporarily unavailable, or has been taken off sale permanently.
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin: 1em auto 1em auto;" |
| 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 is still being produced | | 3 |
| E-15/16*
| 55 kW | 0.55.15, 0.55.16 | 15/16 | | Developed 1984, no longer available |url = http://www.thewindpower.net/wind-turbine-datasheet-212-enercon-e15-55.php |title = The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-15) |date=September 2010 |access-date = 15 July 2011}}{{cite web |url = http://www.thewindpower.net/wind-turbine-datasheet-213-enercon-e16-55.php |title = The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-16) |date=September 2010 |access-date = 15 July 2011}} | 46 |
| E-17/E-18*
| 80 kW | 0.8.17, 0.8.18 | 17/18 | | Developed and installed 1988, no longer available |url = http://www.thewindpower.net/wind-turbine-datasheet-214-enercon-e17-80.php |title = The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-17) |date=September 2010 |access-date = 15 July 2011}} | 158 |
| E-30*
| 300-330 kW | 3.30 | 30, 33 | 50 | Gearless direct-drive, discontinued due to "low demand" | 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 |{{cite web |url=https://en.wind-turbine-models.com/turbines/368-enercon-e-33-300 |title = Enercon E-33 / 300 - 300,00 kW - Wind turbine}}{{cite web |url=https://en.wind-turbine-models.com/turbines/367-enercon-e-32-300 |title = Enercon E-32 / 300 - 300,00 kW - Wind turbine}} |? {{citation needed|date=December 2018}} |
| E-40
| 500 kW, 600 kW | 5.40, 6.44 | 40, 44.5 | | First gearless drive, no longer available |url = http://www.thewindpower.net/wind-turbine-datasheet-164-enercon-e40-500.php |title = The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-40, 500 kW) |date=September 2010 |access-date = 15 July 2011}}{{cite web |url = http://www.thewindpower.net/wind-turbine-datasheet-164-enercon-e40-600.php |title = The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-40, 600 kW) |date=September 2010 |access-date = 15 July 2011}} | 5879 total (1887 original, 3992 revised) |
| E-44
| 900 kW | 9.44 | 45 | 45, 55 | |url = http://www.enercon.de/p/downloads/EN_Eng_TandS_0710.pdf |title = Enercon Wind Energy Converters: Technology and Service |access-date = 15 July 2011 |archive-date = 26 May 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120526025930/http://www.enercon.de/p/downloads/EN_Eng_TandS_0710.pdf |url-status = dead }} |563 |
| E-48
| 800 kW | 8.48 | 48 | 50, 55, 56, 60, 65, 76 | | 1878 |
| E-53
| 800 kW | 8.53 | 52.9 | 60, 73 | Prototype developed 2006 | 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 | 4360 |
| E-82
| 2 MW, 2.3 MW, 3MW | 20.82, 23.82, 30.82 | 82 | 78, 84, 98, 108 | Direct drive | 3146 |
| E-92
| 2.35 MW | 24.92 | 92 | 84, 98, 108, 138 | Direct drive |{{Cite web|url=https://www.enercon.de/home/|title=Home|website=www.enercon.de}} | ~250 {{citation needed|date=October 2018}} |
| E-101
| 3 MW | 101 | | 99, 124, 135, 149 | Direct drive | ~1500 {{citation needed|date=October 2018}} |
| 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|date=October 2018}} |
| E-112*
| 4.5 MW, 6 MW | 60.114, 45.114 | 112 & 114 | 108, 124 | Replaced by E-126, no longer available |url = http://www.thewindpower.net/wind-turbine-datasheet-462-enercon-e112-4500.php |title = The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-112, 4500 kW) |date=September 2010 |access-date = 15 July 2011}}{{cite web |url = http://www.thewindpower.net/wind-turbine-datasheet-89-enercon-e112-6000.php |title = The Wind Power: Database (Enercon E-112, 6000 kW) |date=September 2010 |access-date = 15 July 2011}} | 9 |
| E-115
| 2.5 MW, 3.0 MW | 25.115, 30.115 | 115 | 92.5-149 | Direct drive |? {{citation needed|date=October 2018}} |
| E-126
| 6.0 MW, 7.58 MW | 60.126, 76.126 | 126 | 135 | Prototype developed October 2007 | 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 | 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 | 300+ (estimated) |
| E-126 EP4 4.2MW
| 4.2 MW | 42.126 (EP4) | 126 | 135 | Designed for low-wind sites |
| E-141 EP4 4.2MW
| 4.2 MW | 42.141 (EP4) | 141 | 129 or 159 | Prototype installed, Number unknown | TBA {{citation needed|date=October 2018}} |
| 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
=Patent dispute=
Enercon was prohibited from exporting their wind turbines to the US until 2010 due to alleged infringement of {{US patent|5083039}}.{{cite web
|url = http://www.ll.georgetown.edu/Federal/judicial/fed/opinions/97opinions/97-1554.html
|title = Enercon vs. International Trade Commission and Zond Energy Systems
|access-date = 15 July 2011}}{{cite web
|url = http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/The_Greening_Of_Patent_Litigation_999.html
|title = The Greening of Patent Litigation
|author = Space Daily Staff Writers
|date=April 2008
|access-date = 15 July 2011}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.usitc.gov/publications/337/pub3003.pdf |title=In the matter of certain variable speed wind turbines and components thereof |publisher=U.S. International Trade Commission |date=November 1996 |access-date=8 May 2017}} 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.{{cite web
|url = http://www.zeit.de:80/1999/40/199940.nsa_2_.xml?page=all
|title = Verrat unter Freunden
|trans-title = Treachery among friends
|last = Schröm
|first = Oliver
|author-link = Oliver Schröm
|publisher = Die Zeit (Zeit Online)
|date = 30 October 1999
|language = de
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100420072230/http://www.zeit.de/1999/40/199940.nsa_2_.xml?page=all
|archive-date = 20 April 2010
|access-date = 4 May 2008
|url-status = live
}} The aim of the alleged industrial espionage against Enercon was the forwarding of details of Wobben's generator technology to a US firm.{{Cite web|url=http://www.fas.org/irp/program/process/rapport_echelon_en.pdf|title=Echelon Rapport, EU Parliament}}
Other ventures
From 2008 to 2020, Enercon was part owner of a railway company, which 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.oz-online.de/artikel/14339/Enercon-baut-eigenen-Bahnhof |title = Enercon baut eigenen Bahnhof – Ostfriesen-Zeitung}} In 2020 Enercon sold its rail ventures To Hermann Bettels GmbH.{{cite web |url=https://www.lok-report.de/news/deutschland/industrie/item/21408-enercon-hermann-bettels-gmbh-co-kg-uebernimmt-enercon-bahngesellschaft-e-g-o-o.html |title = LOK Report - Enercon: Hermann Bettels GmbH & Co. KG übernimmt ENERCON-Bahngesellschaft e.g.o.o.}}
Gallery
Image:2011 Versorgung TSteuer-003.jpg|E-10 at Neumayer Station III
Image:Flug Emden 2010 021.JPG|E-112 at Ems Emden, Enercon's only offshore wind turbine installed to date
Image:Cuxhaven groesste windkraftwerk.jpg|Second E-112 at Cuxhaven
Image:Greenpark wind turbine arp.jpg|E-70 at Green Park Business Park
Image:Swaffham.JPG|E-66 at Swaffham's Ecotech centre, with observation deck below the nacelle
Image:Hohe Schaar-Hafen 4.jpg|Brown meets green: Enercon wind turbines at oil refinery
Image:Enercon E32 Windenergieanlage.jpg|E-32 on the North Sea coast
Image:Tocco da Casauria Wind Farm Published on New York Times.JPG|Enercon E-48 in the Wind Farm near the Medieval village of Tocco da Casauria in Italy
Image:Fera Wind Farm in Stella, Savona, Italy, with Enercon E-48.jpg|Wind farm with 3 Enercon E-48 in Stella, Liguria, Italy
Image:E-112 Egeln feb2005.jpg|Enercon E-112
Image:E82 Ingersheim 06052012.JPG|Enercon E-82
Image:DE 049 010 20091109004806 001 Enercon.jpg|Enercon E-82
Image:Göslow Enercon E-101.JPG|Enercon E-101
Image:Enercon E 126 Schneebergerhof 08072011 2.JPG|Enercon E-126
Image :ENERCON E-126 EP4 im Windpark Holdorf.jpg|A weaker Enercon E-126 - EP4 low-wind model - at Holdorf
= Estinnes windfarm =
{{wide image|windpark Estinnes 20juli2010 kort voor voltooiing.jpg|600px|The 11 turbine Estinnes Wind Farm in July 2011 before completion...}}
{{wide image|11 turbines E-126 7,5MW wind farm Estinnes Belgium.jpg|600px|...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
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category|Enercon GmbH}}
- [http://www.enercon.de/en-en/ Enercon's home page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150521171728/http://www.enercon.de/en-en/ |date=21 May 2015 }}
{{Wind power}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Engineering companies of Germany
Category:Wind power in Germany
Category:Wind turbine manufacturers