End-of-show report Wind

The premiere of this Leading Trade Fair for Wind Generation Technology, Components and Services was a resounding success. 156 exhibitors occupied 6,353 square metres of display space. Wind 2009 exceeded the expectations of the organizers and was the strongest new addition to the HANNOVER MESSE portfolio in recent years.

The visiting public was extremely impressed by the range of yield-optimized land-based wind turbines in the output category between two and three megawatts. A major highlight was a new mechatronic transmission system developed by Voith Turbo Wind GmbH, which received the "Hermes Award". The function of this WinDrive system is to control the speed of wind turbines. Voith Turbo Wind has succeeded in creating the first-ever dynamically variable drivetrain in a wind turbine, without the need for an additional frequency converter. This leads to significant weight savings and at the same time enhances the quality of the grid feed. Other key trends were 'smart' rectifiers and aerodynamically optimized components.

The mood among manufacturers and component suppliers at HANNOVER MESSE was vey positive indeed. The wind energy sector is booming. "The new trade show Wind was a great success. The general climate for the wind industry is very good. Large numbers of customers visited our stand and we were able to establish valuable contacts," commented Dirk Kordtomeikel, a senior manager at Beckhoff Automation.

Strong growth is expected in international markets, due above all to the DREAM project in the USA. All the signs are that the next Wind (in 2011) will be even bigger, thanks also to the numerous synergies with Energy and Power Plant Technology.