COMPOSITES EUROPE 2012 Blog

The significance of wind energy is increasing throughout Europe.

A study carried out by the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA) shows that capacity increased by just under 20% to almost 65,000 megawatts in 2008. The possibility for growth is much greater in the UK than in Germany. In the offshore field in particular the UK has great potential. According to figures issued by the British Wind Energy Association (BWEA), 600 megawatts are currently in the construction phase, more than 1,200 megawatts already have approval and a further 6,600 megawatts are at the concrete planning stage.

One reason for the great interest in the UK is the comparatively generous remuneration. A British wind plant operator receives over ten cents per kilowatt hour. This total is made up of the energy certificate price, credit from tax exemption for renewable energies, a climate tax (climate change levy – roughly 0.50 cent per kilowatt hour) and the market price for electricity. A typical feature of the British wind industry is that the projects are planned and constructed primarily by large energy groups such as Scottish Power, Eon UK, RWE Npower or Scottish & Southern, both on water and on land.

RWE Innogy was recently awarded a contract by the British government to develop roughly 4,000 megawatts of offshore wind energy at Dogger Bank off the coast of Yorkshire in the east of England. The Little Cheyne Court wind park was officially opened last year in Kent. Delivering an installed output of roughly 60 megawatts, it is the largest onshore wind park in the south-east of England. The 26 wind turbines of the 2.3 megawatt class from Nordex supply renewable energy to over 33,000 households in the UK each year.

The case of Nordex shows how not only the power groups themselves but also the manufacturers of wind power equipment can benefit from the Brit-boom. The main prerequisite for producing the gigantic wind blades is fibre-reinforced plastics – as only they offer the necessary strength at the correspondingly low weight.

Gaugler & Lutz from Aalen, Germany are one example for showcasing innovations for the wind power sector at the COMPOSITES EUROPE 2010 . Material deliveries to the wind energy sector constitute a large proportion of its total sales. Its customers include all well-known German wind power equipment makers. The company is specialised in the manufacture and assembly of core materials for lightweight and sandwich construction. Besides different types of foam and balsa wood, the company also supplies reinforcing fibres and has its own production operation.  Roughly 4,000 rotor blades are manufactured each year using materials supplied by the company.

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