Brochure - Nordex 2018

Leading the sustainable revolution with powerful wind turbines

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A sustainable pioneer in the wind energy market WRIT TEN BY

L AUR A MULL AN PRODUCED BY

TOM VENTURO

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Following a pivotal merger between Nordex and Acciona Windpower in 2016, the Nordex Group is disrupting the sustainable energy market with its customer-centric approach

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ind power has proven to be big business.

According to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), US wind power produc-

tion has tripled over the past decade and there are now more than 54,000 wind turbines operating in 41 states 04

as well as Guam and Puerto Rico. Following a pivotal merger, Nordex Group has profited from this tailwind and today, it stands as the fourth largest wind turbine provider in the marketplace. By bringing together the expertise of both Nordex and Acciona Windpower, Head of Project Management, John McComas, says that this union has been critical to positioning itself as a wind energy front runner.

The advantages have been tenfold. “One of the immediate benefits is size,” McComas explains.

“Acciona Windpower and Nordex on their own were smaller organizations and were not reaching all markets. By merging, we’ve created the fourth largest wind turbine supplier in the marketplace.

Since the marketplace itself is competitive and volume driven, this merger really helped us increase our offering to large-scale clients.” By blending two

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06 digitally-savvy companies, the merger has also helped to foster innovation.

The Nordex Group has launched and installed one of its highest yielding and quietest onshore turbines. “In 2019, we will be installing our first commercial 4.5 MW wind turbines in international markets that will incorporate the best elements from the Acciona Windpower turbine with the original Nordex turbine,” notes McComas.

The Nordex Group not only competes with the wind sector but also has to go head to head with the solar, nuclear, hydropower among other sectors.

“ We’re a very flexible and customer-oriented organization.

We adapt according to feedback in order to provide the best solution from a project to project basis” — John McComas, Head of Project Management

CLICK TO WATCH : ‘WIND TURBINE 3D ANIMATION – NORDEX’ 07 What distinguishes the firm from the rest,

Keeping a vigilant eye on market

argues McComas, is how it collaborates

dynamics, the Nordex Group under-

closely with its clients from start to finish.

stands that the cost of energy is one

“These are projects that are incredibly

of the most important key performance

complex with millions of dollars of invest-

indicators (KPIs) facing the sector

ment, so collaboration is absolutely key,”

today. “The cost of energy reduction

he explains. “No one benefits if people

initiative has become culturally ingrained

are pointing fingers at each other and

in the organization. We actively ask

making excuses. Ultimately, it’s much

ourselves if we can do our tasks more

more positive for the project and every-

efficiently without sacrificing safety

one involved that we work hand in hand

and quality. I think it’s been a success.”

and keep our eye on what the goal really

One way that the wind turbine provider

is: to safely get turbines in the ground

reduces costs is by working closely

and to have them producing clean and

with clients to streamline their opera-

cost-effective power.”

tions. “As soon as the agreements are w w w.no rdex- o nl i ne .com /en

inked we have meetings about cost whereby we talk with clients and their selected contractors to see if there’s anything that can be done to cut unnecessary costs out, while still maintaining the positive elements of each party’s relationship,” McComas says. “We have meetings to teach them about how best to install the turbine, what best practices are, what they need to be watchful of, some of the lessons learned that others have encountered. We invite them to our facility to take a look at the manufacturing process. We invite them to audit that process.”

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Offering powerful wind turbines across the globe, the joint company has more than 30 years’ experience harnessing wind energy. Through its trailblazing turbines the company has delivered more than 23 GW of sustainable energy, but despite its impressive reach it has always ensured that its projects are tailored to the specific client in mind. “We specialize and focus on specific constraints that each developer may have,” explains McComas. “There may be a sound requirement; there may be some greater electrical requirements.”

“We’re a very flexible organization” he adds.

“We’re not mechanical in what we offer from one project to the next. We listen to our clients, we listen to our partner contractors,

“ These are projects that are incredibly complex and could be worth millions, so collaboration is absolutely key” — John McComas, Head of Project Management

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C OMPA N Y FA C T S

and we adapt according to feedback in order to provide the best solution from a project-to-project basis.”

To meet the ever-changing demands of its clients, the Nordex Group has kept its finger on the pulse of the latest innovations in the sector and it has significantly invested in R&D. “There’s a lot of generation technologies in the marketplace and we need to be able to demonstrate that we can offer the best, most sustainable, most cost-effective technology there is,” observes McComas.

• According to the American Wind Energy Association, US wind power has tripled over the past decade and now, there are now more than 54,000 wind turbines operating in 41 states, Guam and Puerto Rico • The joint company has more than 30 years’ experience harnessing wind energy and has delivered more than 23GW of sustainable energy

“Additionally, regulations are becoming stricter, testing requirements for the equipment are becoming more robust, w w w.no rdex- o nl i ne .com /en

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and I would say it’s important for all wind turbine and renewables manufacturers to understand what these requirements are, incorporate them into existing technologies – and to do so quickly.”

At the Nordex Group, this has involved forging strong partnerships with industry leaders. “We can’t do these projects on our own,” McComas adds. “Over the years, we’ve developed strong partnerships with companies, even though we may not have contractual relationships with them. The names that stand out the most are RES America and IEA,

in terms of construction. When it comes

employees – people that have truly

to transportation, we’ve worked closely

gone up the ranks and are now in lead-

with DSV, Coli, Oldendorff, Totrans,

ership positions.” With offices and

BNSFL and ATS and we’ve also had

subsidiaries in more than 20 countries,

a very good manpower partnership with

the wind turbine provider has a truly

One Wind, Run Energy, and Gemini.”

global reach and this expansion is only

With around 5,000 employees under

set to continue. This has proven to be

its wing, the workforce undoubtedly

a key tool for retaining top expertise

has an important role to play in fostering

and talent.

continuous improvement. “The people

“Retention is a key issue for every

who work on these projects every day

manager in the marketplace,” McCo-

are the most important asset we have,”

mas says. “I think we stand out because

notes McComas. “One of the competi-

we provide opportunities to our employ-

tive advantages we have as an organi-

ees. If they work hard and are open to

zation is that we have a lot of seasoned

it, then the company will find them an

Merger occurred in

2016

5,000

Approximate number of employees

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opportunity around the globe. We also

and center of everything it does. From

have a very personal relationship with

hazardous weather to working at heights

our employees. The people on site

or near high voltages, workers face

know that they can contact the leader-

a series of risks and therefore a strong

ship team directly and the fact that they

safety culture has been embedded into

have a voice and can project that voice

the organization. “In project manage-

to leadership is important.�

ment, for instance, we demonstrate

Recognizing the importance of its

that safety is important to us by being

employees, the company has also

involved in safety walks and safety

worked hard to ensure safety is front

audits when we go and visit sites. This

“ Listening to the people that are actually conducting the work is key and trying to reflect that in actual change is very important to the overall culture of the firm” — John McComas, Head of Project Management

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ensures that our safety culture is well

that in actual change is very important

observed,” McComas explains. “We

to the overall culture of the firm.”

also have weekly discussions with site

Today, the Nordex Group has several

managers and safety personnel to hear

projects underway and is nearing

what they’re seeing, what is being

completion on a 95 turbine project in

changed and what they think would be

Kansas, a 101 turbine project in Nebras-

good to incorporate from a safety

ka, and a 16 turbine project in North

standpoint moving forward. Listening

Dakota. Elsewhere, the firm is set to

to the people that are actually conduct-

build its ninth wind farm in Texas.

ing the work is key and trying to reflect

Looking forward, McComas is optimistic w w w.no rdex- o nl i ne .com /en

“ The people who work on these projects every day are the most important asset we have” — John McComas, Head of Project Management

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that this upward trajectory will continue in the years to come.

“I think most of the globe is starting to flip the switch on what is necessary for the future of energy production,” he reflects. “More regions, particularly industrial countries, are starting to realize the need for greater levels of social and environmental responsibility. I think that the renewable market is going to stay strong and I see a lot of positive things for the Nordex Group moving forward. We have just released our new Delta 4000 wind turbine with a 4.0-4.5 MW generator with a 149m rotor. The first turbines have been installed in Germany and further ones will be installed internationally in 2019 and we expect to see the first installations in the US in 2020, which is very exciting.

Ultimately, we don’t just supply a product that is competitive; we also provide a service that suits everyone’s specific needs. I think that’s what will propel us forward and make us successful.”

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Nordex SE Langenhorner Chaussee 600 22419 Hamburg Deutschland T +49 40 30030 1000 www.nordex-online.com/en