Germany: WindEnergy Hamburg 2014 Attracts Industry Experts

Hamburg has developed into Europe’s wind energy capital. It has attracted leading manufacturers and component suppliers, and other companies involved in the wind industry to settle in this international port and trading city.

These companies are playing a major part in implementing Germany’s energy transformation. The international energy markets are watching Germany’s progress very carefully as the world’s first mover in the energy policy turnaround aims to lead the field in new technologies. From 2014 onwards, the onshore and offshore wind industry will be meeting at the international exhibition WindEnergy Hamburg, to present innovations and play a part in shaping the future of the industry. “The specialist fair for the wind industry, in Europe’s major wind industry city – a convincing concept,” says Bernd Aufderheide, President and CEO of Hamburg Messe und Congress GmbH (HMC). This new industry event will be held for the first time from 23 to 26 September 2014, and many of the leading companies from the wind industry and offshore sector have already registered.

 New industry fair meets with great interest

More than two years before the start of the event, several thousand square metres of exhibition space are already booked for WindEnergy Hamburg 2014. “We have received bookings from companies from all parts of the value chain, including leading representatives of the industry,” says Bernd Aufderheide. “For example, Siemens, GE, REpower and Nordex are supporting the new event in Hamburg right from the start.” The growing importance of wind power had caused many of the leading players in the industry to call for the industry’s major international event to be held in Hamburg, the European wind capital, in 2014. “We regard WindEnergy Hamburg as a key pacemaker for the whole of the wind industry,” says Dr. Felix Ferlemann, CEO Siemens Wind Power. “That is why we, as the leading supplier for offshore wind energy systems, are playing an active part in setting up this platform.” REpower Systems likewise supports WindEnergy Hamburg, as confirmed by Andreas Nauen, its CEO – “We can showcase our onshore and offshore expertise under one roof here. REpower sees Hamburg as the location of the future. We want to be there from the start of the event in 2014, when WindEnergy together with the City of Hamburg will be the gateway to the world of wind power.”

Many more companies will be present at WindEnergy Hamburg; alongside Siemens Wind Power, REpower Systems, Nordex and GE Energy, already mentioned, there will also be Gamesa, Winergy, DONG Energy and Alstom, and major component suppliers such as Bosch Rexroth, ZF and Eickhoff. The exhibition concept in Hamburg was developed together with the industry association VDMA Power Systems, and has the support of many of the VDMA’s member companies. The association’s main concern is to secure and expand the international specialist exhibition for the wind industry at a location in Germany, on a long-term basis.

Leading manufacturers and other companies engaged in the wind industry have set up their company headquarters in Hamburg because they are convinced of its strengths as a location. They include Siemens, REpower Systems, Nordex, General Electric, AREVA Wind, Vattenfall AG, DONG, RWE Innogy, EnB, and E.ON Climate & Renewables. The points in favour of Hamburg include its vicinity to the offshore projects in the North Sea and the Baltic. According to a recent survey by Prognos AG, a total of 1,466 renewable energy companies are based in the metropolitan region of Hamburg, employing a total 24,700 people. Half of those are employed in the wind industry – more than in any other sector. These companies are thus a part of the initiative moving the energy turnaround forward in Germany.

 Registrations by international companies

WindEnergy Hamburg meets with a great deal of interest, especially at international level – that was reflected at the meeting of the European Wind Energy Association in Copenhagen, where WindEnergy representatives held successful talks with companies from Denmark, the UK, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, France, the US and Canada. WindEnergy Hamburg also had a booth at AWEA, the largest industry event in North America. The new WindEnergy, to be held every two years from 2014 onwards, is totally dedicated to the focal areas, key markets and current topics of the international wind industry.

 WindEnergy Hamburg in line with industry dynamics

The concept of WindEnergy Hamburg is in line with the dynamic development and increasing globalisation of the wind industry. “HMC brings to WindEnergy its many years of experience in hosting premier international exhibitions and events,” says Bernd Aufderheide. “We have a worldwide network of foreign representatives, ensuring the best contacts with all the key markets. And another strength is our great maritime expertise.” Shortly before WindEnergy Hamburg, HMC hosts SMM, the leading maritime industry fair, at the same venue (from 9 to 12 September 2014). That opens up great opportunities for synergies to SMM exhibitors – shipbuilders, shipyards, ports, logistics companies and marine equipment suppliers. Offshore suppliers can be present with the same stand at WindEnergy Hamburg, shortly after SMM.

 “Hamburg is the ideal exhibition location, meeting the specific needs and expectations of exhibitors and trade visitors at international level,” adds Bernd Aufderheide. “Our modern site gives the exhibitors from the wind industry optimal presentation conditions and efficient logistics.” Hamburg features easy access for international exhibitors and visitors, as a transport hub with an airport close to the city centre, and with three long-distance rail stations. Within a radius of five kilometres from the fair, Hamburg has 150 hotels with some 50,000 beds in all categories.

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Offshore WIND staff, August 17, 2012; Image: Michael Zapf (Z)