Deutsche Windtechnik has signed a major contract with windpunx to retrofit ADLS at several wind farms

windpunx GmbH & Co. KG has placed an order for the retrofitting of a large proportion of their managed wind turbines. The ADLS system can be installed in turbines from different manufacturers that use different technologies. In addition, the associated documentation of the retrofitting will ensure that the operator continues to receive remuneration under the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). Preparations to retrofit the wind turbines will begin immediately and the process will be completed within the legally mandated period of time.

Multi-brand and spanning multiple wind farms

The contract between the operations manager windpunx GmbH & Co. KG and Deutsche Windtechnik encompasses wind turbines from existing contracts as well as additional turbines. For Steffen Schroth, managing director, and Felix Genze, chief operating officer of windpunx GmbH & Co. KG, two major reasons for the decision to work with Deutsche Windtechnik were the good cooperation in the past and the expertise to retrofit turbines from multiple manufacturers. The operations manager´s wind turbines that require On-Demand Night-Time Marking (ONM) include systems from Vestas, NEG Micon, Siemens, Nordex, Senvion, Fuhrländer, Enercon and GE: “We have a very wide range of turbine types in our portfolio. It is very helpful to be able to place an order with just one provider that covers all wind turbines that require ONM. Our companies have already gathered good experiences working together over a long period of time, so this step was simply logical for us," said Felix Genze.

Deutsche Windtechnik's ADLS consists of a central Transponder Reception Module (TRM) and the ADLS boxes. The ADLS boxes are installed in each wind turbine but the TRM only needs to be installed in one central turbine. The ADLS system makes it possible to connect wind turbines within a radius of six kilometres with just one TRM, regardless of the turbine technology. This advantage is also of interest to operators of individual wind turbines at one end of the spectrum to multiple wind farms at the other. “Adjacent wind turbines can be connected to the existing TRMs as part of the ADLS retrofitting process. This means that the costs and the time required for retrofitting can be kept at a minimum for all wind farm operators involved," said Karl Keusgen, Managing Director of Deutsche Windtechnik Steuerung.

Ensuring EEG remuneration is part of the package

Steffen Schroth said: “Another reason why we decided for Deutsche Windtechnik is the comprehensive documentation of the work. The processing and availability of the data records for each wind turbine connected to the ADLS serves windpunx GmbH & Co. KG as the proof needed to ensure the EEG remuneration from the German Federal Network Agency (BNetzA). This is part of the "all-round carefree package" provided by Deutsche Windtechnik. In addition, the service provider will also be responsible for comprehensive service for the operator's ADLS in the future.”

For Boy Kliemann, Senior Sales Manager at Deutsche Windtechnik Service and long-term contact person for windpunx GmbH & Co. KG, the expansion of the cooperation is representative of the synergetic partnership: “It is a great compliment that Steffen Schroth and his team are entrusting us with a significant portion of their wind turbines that require ONM. We are particularly pleased that the contract we have signed with our long-term partner will enable them to benefit from all the advantages of our ADLS system.”