Germany: Federal Minister of Environment Opens HUSUM WindEnergy 2012

The leading international wind energy trade fair is opening its doors in North Friesland for the 13^th time. This year, the honour of officially opening the trade fair was given to Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister of the Environment. In addition to the optimistic, happy atmosphere and short routes on the trade fair site, the usual fringe events and extensive conference offer also encourages discourse and exchanges.

For the next five days, Husum will officially be the international wind capital. The industry’s actors, movers and shakers will be coming from all over the world to find out about the latest trends, technologies and innovations, and to be inspired by the dynamics of this growing industry.

They will include Prince Joachim of Denmark, who is scheduled to attend on Wednesday, 19 September 2012. Over 36,000 visitors will be descending on the world’s wind capital, which enjoys cult status in the global wind industry. Although the development of wind energy is continuing apace in Germany, Europe and the rest of the world, and also has its political supporters in many areas, the industry is still currently facing a number of changes.

The EU financial crisis, escalating costs, congestion on land and more in the area of off-shore wind energy, but also issues of acceptance both at home and abroad all hinder the speedy development of this climate-friendly energy of the future. There is therefore a tremendous need for discourse between politics, science and the wind energy industry. There is also a need for a whole range of pragmatic solutions in order to address the existing problems without further delay.

Network stability, energy storage, wind forecasts, logistics, and the optimisation of production processes are just some of the many topics that need to be considered from fresh perspectives. This year’s record of just under 1200 exhibitors from 90 countries not only confirms the tremendous vitality of this industry, but also the hope that new and important impulses for global wind energy will emanate from Husum.

So for five days, the trade fair in Husum will again provide the inimitable atmosphere of a stage on which the wind energy of the past had its awakening, and which today is more important than ever for the confidence of a young and successful industry.

Eye-level exchanges and contemplation of the industry greats

“Although the industry is quite clearly in a state of change, the trade fair represents reliable continuity for the wind industry in this difficult time. The market participants, whether from here or from abroad, can find out where the global wind energy currently stands, and where it is most likely to develop in its various, often vastly different, submarkets,” says Peter Becker, Managing Director Messe Husum & Congress.

Eye-level exchanges and contemplation of the industry greats will help everyone involved to progress, be they manufacturers, operators, suppliers, logisticians, planners, scientists or political decision-makers. The latter also include Peter Altmaier, Federal Minister of the Environment, who values “reliability and predictability” in the development of renewable energies.

About a month ago, he presented his 10-point programme for Germany’s energy turnaround, and this morning he will open HUSUM WindEnergy at a festive event with talks by the US wind pioneer Paul Gipe, and a video message from patron and EU Commissioner Connie Hedegaard.

Peter Altmaier has emphasised his commitment to the development of wind energy. “With the move towards alternative energy sources, we in Germany are setting the course for safe, responsible and progressive energy supplies in the 21^st century. Wind power on land and widely expanded off-shore wind energy are the essential cornerstones of our energy future. Today, wind energy contributes between 7 and 8 percent to Germany’s electricity mix; in 40 years’ time, it should cover half of our electricity requirement.” Most of this wind electricity will then come from Schleswig-Holstein.

For Torsten Albig, Minister President of the northernmost federal land since June, wind energy and its regional added value are important economic factors. “The wind energy industry on the western coast of Schleswig-Holstein is not only essential for the energy turnaround in Germany, but is also one of the most important growth areas in our country.”

Wind energy plays lead role in the success of the energy turnaround

At the heart of the industry and its overall added-value chain are the manufacturers of wind turbines. Since the full takeover of the Bremerhaven company Multibrid in 2010, the French state-owned company AREVA and its subsidiary AREVA Wind have been among the major system manufacturers at international level.

On the test field alpha ventus, AREVA Wind gathered valuable experience that gave the company important impulses in the wind industry. At the opening conference of HUSUM WindEnergy, Jean Huby, CEO of the system manufacturer, discusses just how the politically stipulated off-shore goals can actually be achieved.

Scientists at the renowned Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy and Energy System Technology (IWES) are esteemed experts in the question of how the energy turnaround can be realised technically. “The supporting pillars of the future energy systems are renewable energies and energy efficiency. The right mix and spatial distribution of renewable energies are a prerequisite in the energy turnaround for an overall system at optimum costs. Wind energy will play a leading role, not least because it is also available at night and in winter,” the director of the IWES sums up the role of renewable energies in the overall context.

The exchange between politics and energy industry is a classic issue of the associations, and it is one which they are able to address particularly efficiently at an international event of the size of HUSUM WindEnergy. It is important to the German Association of Energy and Water Industries BDEW to include consumers in the discussion. “We will only receive the agreement for such a mammoth project with information and transparency,” says Hildegard Müller, Chairwoman of the General Executive Management Board of the BDEW.

The German Wind Energy Association BWE wants more commitment and reliability from Germany’s politicians. BWE President Hermann Albers: “False populism comes here at the expense of one of the most important economic projects in the Federal Republic of Germany: the energy turnaround.”

Despite all the challenges that the industry faces, HUSUM WindEnergy 2012 also wants to point out what has already been achieved, to indicate the tremendous opportunities that are available, and to give visitors and exhibitors a positive impulse.

“Never before have so many states exceeded the critical 1000 MW mark. As the biggest international industry gathering, we want to reinforce this start. I for one want everyone to use the trade fair as a platform for discussing the future of the wind industry, for presenting innovations, and ultimately for conducting successful business transactions,” Peter Becker sums up.

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Press release, September 18, 2012; Image: Husum WindEnergy