Any way the wind blows…Enercon will catch it!
Wind energy has become indispensable in the supply of green energy worldwide. The top-notch technology in this branch of sustainable resources keeps developing. One of the leading market players in onshore wind energy installations is the German company Enercon, which is represented all over the world. Today, we would like to focus on their position in Türkiye because it is a remarkable one that involves the Coil Partners’ activities. Join our conversation with Erwin Van Polen, Regional Category Manager at Enercon.
Can you describe the unique position Enercon has in Türkiye?
Erwin: “The Turkish market is 90% ours. That sounds a bit arrogant, which we’re definitely not. But the position of Enercon is indeed special. Being such a strong market leader wasn’t something we achieved in two days. The Turkish government wrote down very strict rules and requirements for anyone who wants to do business in its country. Enercon invested hugely in meeting these standards and that pays off.”
What are those requirements for example?
Erwin: “Impossible to give you all of them, but a very important one is ‘the local content’. The government requires that 80% of the wind turbine is produced in Türkiye. That has a massive impact on every step of the production process and the journey we walk with our customers.”
Enercon employs more than 13.000 people worldwide. Does the company approach each market differently or with one holy plan?
Erwin: “Absolutely not. Every country, every culture, every government asks for a personal approach with tailormade solutions. But the one thing that is appreciated worldwide is the ‘Deutsche Gründlichkeit’ we’re known for. A strong image that stands for trust and quality. In Türkiye we chose to install a 100% Turkish team of employees instead of an international one, because the communication between people of the same culture runs things smoothly. That’s something we don’t do in European countries for example.There are differences at all levels and in all stages of the process. As a company, too, we require high standards from our suppliers. We only cooperate with qualified companies and believe me… our own requirements and tests are not for the fainthearted.”
Which challenges in wind energy does our planet face at this moment and soon?
Erwin: “Look, we need sustainable energy quick and in massive quantities. Wind energy supplies us with a huge part of it but it’s not even close to enough if we want to meet the enormous demand that awaits us. Apart from industry and households, we face the conversion towards electrical vehicles at this very moment. Where do you think this energy will come from?
Change needs time, a lot of time. You can’t force people to suddenly think and act differently, but we will have to speed up the process towards an open mind. If not, we’ll run after a moving target.
We encounter resistance to the visual aspect of wind turbines in inhabited areas. We run up against local legislation inhibiting us to install more wind turbines. But the fact is that we are running out of power, and something needs to be done. We need flexible minds in all layers of society as soon as possible.”
Let’s get back to Türkiye and the cooperation with Coil Partners. How would you describe their part in Enercon’s success story over there?
Erwin: “We’ve been working together for quite some time now. Coil Partners has an impressive knowledge and knowhow. The agility that comes with not being a giant company is one of their biggest assets. Quality, trust and their personal approach on top of our requirements makes doing business with them enjoyable. Finding solutions is in their DNA.
Coil Partners manufactures the coil for our generators and is involved in the design process as well. The new EP5-turbines need copper coils instead of aluminum ones. Together with Sarcam and other suppliers we reach to Enercon’s specific standards.
We’re in search of future-proof high-end technological partners that are willing to evolve with us. I sincerely hope we will keep finding that in Coil Partners. The investments we sometimes ask for will pay off in the long run.”
Give us a glimpse of the bright future of Enercon in Türkiye!
Erwin: “Nothing is ever guaranteed. So we have to keep working hard and fast to hold our ground. Our direct-drive turbines are appreciated all over the world, also in Türkiye. We will keep investing in them along with new technological progress.
Our service contracts are as important to us as the manufacturing process. Regular maintenance is crucial for sustainability. If we offer our customers a warranty of 25 years on wind turbines, we must stay on top of things. A breath of wind and the tables turn.”
