Nordex North America - April 2020

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN ENERGY IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Nordex Group

DIGITAL REPORT 2020

02

NORDEX GROUP:

DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION

IN ENERGY WRITTEN BY

SEAN GALEA-PACE PRODUCED BY

TOM VENTURO

03

w w w.no rdex- o nl i n e. com

NORDEX GROUP

John McComas, Head of Project Management at Nordex North America, discusses the impact of digital transformation in the energy space amidst the launch of a new wind turbine platform

A

s one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, Nordex Group provides high-yield, cost-efficient wind turbines

under the Acciona Windpower and Nordex brands.

Nordex has production facilities in Germany, Spain, Brazil, the US, Argentina, Mexico and India 04

and produces nacelles, hubs, rotor blades and concrete towers across its offices in 25 countries.

Following its acquisition of Acciona Windpower in 2016, Nordex became a major player in the energy space.

John McComas is Head of Project Management at Nordex North America. Having originally joined Acciona Windpower North America in August 2007 as a Supply Chain Analyst, McComas worked in several different positions before moving into his current role in May 2017. Having achieved considerable success over the past few years, McComas points to his company’s product line as a driving factor. “Our product line between the Nordex and Acciona turbines is flexible, cost effective, and client driven,” explains McComas. We’re not afraid of entering into markets where other organisations feel uncomfortable.”

05

w w w.no rdex- o nl i n e. com

NORDEX GROUP

“ WE CAN’T HAVE JUST ONE WAY OF DOING THINGS ACROSS A DIVERSE RANGE OF MARKETS. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE ADAPT TO WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE” — John McComas, Head of Project Management, Nordex North America

A key area of priority to McComas is the company’s client approach.

“We have an approach with our clients which is quite the opposite of ‘take it or leave it’,” he says. “It’s about trying to foster a relationship

06

and learn what the constraints, challenges and economic model inputs are in order for the projects to be successful.” Having worked in several different markets, McComas acknowledges that every individual sector has its own unique challenges.

“What makes us successful is our approach,” he explains.

“We can’t have just one way of doing things across a diverse range of markets. It’s important that we adapt to what the requirements are.”

Another important area of focus to McComas is the introduction of new technology. He understands the growing impact digitalisation is

Delta4000 Series Start: N149/5X & N163/5X (ENG) CLICK TO WATCH

|

3:13

07 having on the energy industry and

Since its purchase of Acciona

beyond. “Digital transformation

Windpower in 2016, there has been

is one of the biggest opportunities

a noticeable shift in operations.

facing most markets at the moment,”

“Acciona Windpower product technol-

says McComas. “We used to spend

ogy was typically deployed in large

lots of time and effort collecting,

wind farms cost of energy focused

analyzing and correcting information

markets, in comparison to the Nordex

and data that came to us from paper-

technology which was deployed at

based sources. We’re flooded by

smaller wind farms in Europe that

the onset of tools, techniques, pro-

had specific requirements,” says

cesses and data, so it’s important

McComas. “Those requirements

that we use it in the right way. With

were prevalent primarily in Germany,

increased efficiency comes the

Scandinavia and the UK and that

opportunity to be safer, more quality

technology was very successful

centered, and strategic.

in those markets. However, since the w w w.no rdex- o nl i n e. com

NORDEX GROUP

08

“ DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES FACING MOST MARKETS AT THE MOMENT” — John McComas, Head of Project Management, Nordex North America

to launch a turbine platform with

merge a few years ago, we have put

strategy. The Delta4000 turbine

in considerable effort to combine that

adapts to the grid operators’ individ-

technology into one platform.”

ual needs, local wind conditions as

a flexible rating as part of its core design philosophy and operation

That platform is the Delta4000. The

well as noise constraints. Through

Nordex Group was the first company

the platform, the Nordex Group relies

on tried-and-tested series production

to create a platform that best serves

technology. The primary aim is to

the needs of our clients,” explains

reduce the cost of energy by design-

McComas. “This product line is a sig-

ing turbines which provide much

nal to the marketplace that the merger

higher yields from any given site. Its

between both organisations has been

Delta 4000 portfolio demonstrates

finalised and our recent commercial

the N155/4.5, N133/4.8, N149/5.X

success with it proved that we are

and N163/5.X wind turbines.

here to stay.”

McComas believes that the new

McComas believes in the value of

platform delivers a clear message

partnerships. Nordex has established

to the marketplace. “What we set out

key, strategic relationships with Appia

to do was take the best parts from

Wind Services, DSV Air & Sea and

both the Nordex and Acciona plat-

ATS, in addition to collaborations with

forms and merge them together

global energy leaders such as Engie,

E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE

John McComas John McComas is a results-orientated, strategic and bi-lingual manager with experience in a range of wind farm supply and construction. McComas has a verifiable track record in four different countries for the successful completion of utility scale projects ranging from 45 to 304.5MWs. He manages site teams, maintaining the site P&L and creating positive working relationships with colleagues, contractors, suppliers and clients. He has been in his current position since May 2017. w w w.no rdex- o nl i n e. com

09

Appia Wind Services is a company dedicated to blade maintenance and repairs in the composite wind energy field. We provide rapid deployment of experienced technicians to complete tasks at hand.

Learn More

Powering your logistics to the next level When your needs are out of the ordinary, trust the DSV experts. www.dsv.com/project-transport

1985

Year founded

6,800 Number of employees

11

Announcing N163/5X CLICK TO WATCH

|

0:32

w w w.no rdex- o nl i n e. com

WIND PROJECT SERVICES

• Asset-based project management solutions

• Continental U.S., Canada, Mexico, Alaska, Hawaii & Caribbean

• Hands-on, multi-modal services

• More than 65 years of experience

• In-house route surveying and technical services team

• Reliable turnkey solution for your next project

ATS Projects | Putting your projects together piece by piece Call 1 800 MEET ATS | Visit ATSinc.com | Email Projects@ATSinc.com

Enel, Duke, Acciona Energy, and others “We want to work hand in hand with our clients in order to generate collaborative solutions,” he says.

“It’s important that we meet our commitments and ensure that we’re transparent and are working together in a collaborative manner to resolve issues. We understand that if we make a mistake then being open and honest is essential. We don’t try and hide; we strive to learn from our mistakes. Being open and honest with 13

NXG Service Technicians EN V1 CLICK TO WATCH

|

0:28

w w w.no rdex- o nl i n e. com

NORDEX GROUP

14

“ Being open and honest with every partnership is essential and if we want to foster long-term growth, we understand we have to work collaboratively and transparently” — John McComas, Head of Project Management, Nordex North America

every partnership is essential and if we want to foster long-term growth, we understand we have to work collaboratively and transparently.”

With the future in mind, McComas has a vision of where he expects Nordex to be over the next few years.

“We’ve almost doubled the growth of the overall organisation in just a few years and we aim to continue in that vein,” he says. “Moving forward, our plan is to focus on the execution of our commitments and make sure we deliver on the projects that we’re undertaking.” McComas also harbours ambitions of transforming The Nordex Group to being considered a leader in wind turbine supply construction and commissioning. “It’s a pivotal year for us,” summarises McComas.

“We’ve already established ourselves as a top tier supplier globally for wind turbines and we want to continue to scale.”

w w w.no rdex- o nl i n e. com

15

NORDEX GROUP 300 S WACKER DR 1500 CHICAGO IL 60606 USA T +1 312 386 4100

www.nordex-online.com

P0WERED BY