A Win Win Opportunity

Through its development of the ‘medium speed drive train concept’, WinWind has undergone a major transition over the last ten years, evolving from a small, Finland-based technology company into an international manufacturer of wind turbines. Marius Goubert speaks to Mr Guru Vijendran, CEO, to learn about his company’s emergence as a technical leader within the field of renewable wind power, and how the imminent realise of a new range of 3 MW turbines is strengthening its reputation as a leading solutions provider.

The establishment of WinWind on March 6th 2000 represented the culmination of almost five years of research undertaken by Mr Jouko Tiuraniemi. A Finish engineer with around 30 years experience in the energy industry, Tiuraniemi sought to develop a new, technological superior wind turbine system that offered a level of efficiency that was unmatched within the global wind energy market. His solution was to opt for a medium-speed drive concept over the more traditional direct drive system, a design that would lead to the unveiling of WinWind’s prototype WWD-1 model (first produced in Autumn 2001 from a manufacturing plant in the Vihreäsaari oil harbour in Oulu).

Soon there after, the company went on to add a 3 MW (WWD-3) turbine to its range and, after establishing subsidiary enterprises in countries such as Estonia and Portugal, it would found a second manufacturing facility in Vengal, India. Now, catering to a global customer base, WinWind has come to play a prominent role within numerous international wind power projects where its turbines are continuing to prove their long-term efficiency and reliability.

Taking the lead

“Today, the main shareholders of the company are Siva Group,” Mr Vijendran tells us. “They chose to invest in the company around 2004 and have steadily increased their equity stake over the last six years. In terms of our development, WinWind has undergone quite a transition. Originally, it was more of a technology company, but over the years, we have looked to gradually develop a commercially scaleable business model, and it has come to the point where we have been successful in acquiring a substantial share of the wind energy market. In 2001, the pilot WWD-1 project was launched, which was a 1 MW machine. The WWD-3, which is the current 3 MW system, was piloted back in 2004, and we were the first company to enter that particular market segment.”

Intitially, the majority of WinWind’s manufacturing activities were conducted through contracted production facilities. This continued until 2009 when the company aquired a 65,000 metre square facility in Vengal, India, which specifically focused on the production of turbines and blades for the WWD-1. The following October, the company established a larger facility in Hamina, Finland. Covering a total area if 13,400 metre square, this facility produces components for the WWD-3 and is set to commence commercial production on the newest addition to the company’s product portfolio: the WindWind3. “So, we are essentially producing the whole turbine and are also cabable of handling the entire installation of the system on a turnkey basis,” continues Mr Vijendran. “The WWD-1 is no longer produced in Europe, and we made the decision to transfer the technology to India. The Indian operation is 100 percent owned by WinWind, however, and situated very close to the city of Chennai where it has good access to the ports and the Bay of Bengal.”

Committed to quality

From an operational perspective, both of these arms of the business engage in the production of their products independently, although WinWind has developed what Mr Vijendran describes as a three layered structure: “The company is headquarted in Finland, with WinWind essentially representing the mother company under which we have our regional operations in India and Europe. The two regions have their own capabilities and operate on a self-sustaining basis while, at the mother company level, WinWind provides a range of common services relating to supply chain management, engineering, and finance, which is provided across both regions. The buiness has developed a layered structure therefore, and this has been done in the interest of scalability. Indeed, another crucial element in terms of successfully growing the company internationally was the quality of our personnel. At present we employ some 800 employees in total, with many of our engineering and sales personnel having years of experiece with premium turbine companies. This supported our transition from an engineering firm to a globally scalable business.”

It is the European countries of Estonia, Sweden and Finland, however, that have come to represent WinWind’s most significant markets. The company also recently concluded a deal with France-based InnoVent for the supply of six 3 MW turbines that will be deployed within wind parks located in Northern France (Fiefs and Sains-lès-Pernes) by the end of 2011. “We also just finished the installation of eight turbines for a new project in Estonia and this is going to be commissioned very soon,” he continues. “Indeed, what has really helped to distinguish WinWind is the advantages our two products offer to the market. The WWD-1 is an industrial scale product and just right for medium-class and retail investors. The WWD-3 is grid compatible and has a reputation for extreme efficiency. For example, we installed a total of 13 machines for a project in Sweden and they have come to set a high benchmark, and are widely acknowledged as the best performing models in the country. That has been a real testimony to the performance of our turbines, which have proven their ability to provide a high energy yield and an excellent return for investors.”

The next generation

The newest addition to the company’s range of turbines is represented by the WinWind3, which is a pitch regulated upwind wind turbine with active yaw and three-blade rotor. The system differs from its predecessors in numerous respects, including the fact that its lighter weight cuts down on installation and transportation costs. It also boasts a more maintenance friendly layout, high energy yield in all wind conditions, and contains 30 per cent fewer moving parts than a conventional drive train system. “This machine is currently being piloted,” Mr Vijendran tells us, “and we have already had a very positive response from the market. Many customers are interested in aquiring these machines when we enter commercial production either later in 2011 or early 2012. Installation is easier, producton is a lot quicker and the WinWind 3 represents a cutting edge new system that investors are eyeing with keen interest.”

It is the 3 MW segment of the wind energy market that has therefore come to represent the highest potential for growth, with the company confident that its production of lower capacity turbines will enable it to capitalise upon strong market demand. “We have the advantage of focusing on what could be described as a mass market segment,” he informs. “And this is very promising. We are producing machines with a well established reputation and which are just right for the mass market. In terms of the high capacity segment, represented by the 4, 4.5 and 6 MW turbines, the investors are small in number. Of course, our sector is highly competitive, but we are actively pursuing a number of new orders and are confident that we have a good chance of securing them. The main focus for the future will be upon Europe, and we would like to explore some new countries in Southern Europe such as Romania, for example.”

The wind power cluster

The company is also well placed to capture growing demand within the domestic market as Finland’s renewable energy sector experiences an influx of investment. “It will take time,” he adds, “but there are certainly numerous projects coming up in the domestic market as well as Northern and Southern Europe. These are well suited to our class of wind turbine, and we are looking forward to increasing our market share in the near future.” Particularly significant for the company’s growth prospects, as well as that of the Finnish wind power sector is WinWind’s participation in a consortium of domestic wind power companies and research organisations known as the ‘The Finnish Wind Power Cluster’.

The aim of this collaboration – which, in addition to WinWind, comprises the Switch, Moventas, Lappeenranta University of Technology, Tampere University of Tech-nology, VTT and Vacon – is to develop a world-class testing and research facility in Finland. The so called Megacentre, which is scheduled for completion by 2013, will utilise testing facilities where technology can be optimised and refined as part of a joint co-operative. “The cluster is the forth largest of its kind in Europe, and will be a non-profit making enterprise drawing on the expertise of the organisations that make up the consortium. So it is more about transferring and sharing data rather developing new technology, and involves engineering calibration and the improvement of existing processes. As we look to develop our market share, we will also work to optimise the technology and contribute to the growth of Finalnd’s renewable energy sector,” he concludes.