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Enercon
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Enercon GmbH, based in Aurich, Northern Germany, is the third-largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world and has been the market leader in Germany for several years.
One of Enercon's key innovations is the gearless (direct drive) wind turbine in combination with an annular generator.
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Encyclopedia
Enercon GmbH, based in Aurich, Northern Germany, is the third-largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world and has been the market leader in Germany for several years.
One of Enercon's key innovations is the gearless (direct drive) wind turbine in combination with an annular generator. This is unlike most other wind turbines, which use a potentially less reliable gearbox in order to increase the rotation speed of the generator. Other differences of Enercon's wind turbines are their distinctive drop-shaped generator housings, designed by Lord Norman Foster, and their towers, which are painted with green rings at the base to blend in with their surroundings (Enercon Natural Color Scheme).
As of November 2008, Enercon has installed more than 13,000 wind turbines, with a total power generating capacity exceeding 15.5 GW. Their most-often installed model is the E-40, which pioneered the gearbox-less design in 1992. Enercon has production facilities in Germany (Aurich, Emden and Magdeburg), Sweden, Brazil, India, Turkey and Portugal.
Enercon was prohibited from exporting their wind turbines to the US until 2010 due to infringement of
. Recently a cross patent agreement was agreed with its competitor General Electric. Enercon claims their intellectual property was stolen by Kenetech (US Windpower, Inc.) and patented in the US before they could do so. Kenetech made similar claims against Enercon. According to the European Parliament; Kenetech seeking evidence for legal action against Enercon for breach of patent rights on the grounds that Enercon had obtained commercial secrets illegally. According to a NSA employee, detailed information concerning Enercon was passed on to Kenetech via ECHELON.
In 2002, the first Enercon E-112 was installed, rated at 4.5 MW. From August 2002 to December 2004, it was the biggest wind turbine in the world. At the end of 2005, it was upgraded to 6 MW. Until the end of 2007, a total of 9 units have been installed, the last ones with a 6 MW rated power. In October 2007 the first E-126 turbines(successor of the E-112),with a 135 m hub height were installed at various sites in Germany and Belgium.
Enercon is not offering or supplying wind turbines to offshore projects as Enercon's managing director Aloys Wobben questions the costs and risks of offshore wind farms because the demand for onshore wind turbines where costs and risks are significantly lower can hardly be satisfied.
Enercon currently supplies the wind turbines for the British electricity company Ecotricity, including one billed as the UK's most visible turbine, an E-70 at GreenPark Business Park.
Gallery
Sources
External links
- - Enercon's home page
- - Enercon India Ltd.
- - Polish web site about RES with information about Enercon (Polish language)
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