Interview by Rikki Stancich in Paris

Having installed around 500 turbines across France since 2002, REpower S.A.S, a subsidiary of REpower Systems AG, passed the 1GW mark for installed capacity in France last month.

Separately, almost one year after final commissioning of the Thornton Bank wind farm in Belgium, REpower Systems AG reported that the availability of its six REpower 5M turbines operating in offshore conditions, has been consistently above 97% – a performance comparable with onshore turbines.

Since the turbines were officially commissioned, over 4,000 full load hours have been recorded per turbine.

Wind Energy Updates catches up with Olivier Perot, CEO of REpower S.A.S.to learn more about Repower’s forward strategy in France, and to REpower’s Senior Vice President Global Service, Dr. Axel Birk, about the secret to availability of offshore turbines.

Wind Energy Update: In June, REpower's subsidiary REpower S.A.S. passed the 1GW mark in France, with 500 installed turbines accounting for 20% of France's total wind power capacity. Looking forward, what kind of growth potential does the French market hold for REpower S.A.S?

Olivier Perot: As you mentioned, REpower S.A.S. accounts for 20% of France’s total wind power capacity with 500 installed turbines and with a market share of more than 20% in 2009, we are the second largest manufacturer on the French market.

Regarding the onshore market in 2010, we expect a slight growth, both in market share and in volume. In 2011, we expect a similar order of magnitude.

However, there is more uncertainty beyond 2011 due to the change of the regulation for wind park development introduced by the "Grenelle2" environmental legislation package.

WindEnergyUpdate: What is the outlook for offshore wind in France and how has REpower S.A.S positioned itself to exploit this market?

Olivier Perot: The French government has announced they will launch a tender in September for a first batch of offshore projects with a total of 3.000 MW. This is a great opportunity for REpower.

REpower is one of the leaders in offshore technology, and we are the only manufacturer to have already installed 70 MW in deep water and farshore. Because of our position in France, we are the perfect partner for French offshore projects. REpower has an excellent technology expertise.

Thanks to its position in onshore wind in France, REpower has a wide range of customers and industrial partners there. Leveraging these assets, we aim to be the industrial catalyst of the offshore wind in France.

WindEnergyUpdate: What have been the main challenges in installing deep water, farshore turbines and how have these challenges been overcome?

Axel Birk: Highest challenge is a reliable access over the whole year. As today’s turbines are reachable within one hour travelling by boat or within 15 minutes by helicopter, the challenge of access is mastered on these wind farms. With a special ‘level system’ REpower is able to turn every unscheduled event in a foreseeable action out there. 

WindEnergyUpdate: REpower has so far demonstrated a strong track record on operations and maintenance of its turbines in the Alpha Ventus and Thornton Bank offshore wind farms. What aspect of REpower's O&M strategy has delivered such results?

Axel Birk: High technical reliability of the design, service friendly design of the turbines and easy exchange of spares. Furthermore, high flexibility due to different access systems, e.g. boat as standard access and helicopter as fall back position.

Wind Energy Update: In offshore conditions, what are the advantages of gearbox vs. direct drive turbines?

Axel Birk: Proven technology: 100% of the today’s two GW offshore fleet are turbines with gearboxes.

The same applies to the existing offshore orderbook of around four GW - 100% of these are turbines with gearboxes.

Direct drive turbines for offshore purposes are in a very early stage with a low number of operational years.

The gearbox system is a reliable technology where we have predictable tear and wear. If there is a reliable CMS system which detects failures at an early stage, interventions can be planned in advance and the impact is less high.

With REpower's gearbox and turbine design repairing the turbine is possible and part of our strategy.

We developed so far the necessary method statements to open the gearbox on the turbine and exchange the affected parts.

All necessary tools and repair sets are ready and tested.

Image: Olivier Perot, CEO of REpower S.A.S

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Rikki Stancich: rstancich@gmail.com