Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, Dr. Robert Habeck, visited the Flender site in Voerde, underscoring the vital role of industry in achieving the energy transition. Flender, known for its precision German engineering, is the sole remaining manufacturer in Germany producing drive systems for wind turbines. It equips a remarkable one-third of the world’s turbines with its drive components, thus contributing significantly to the global energy transformation.
The visit, a response to an invitation extended at the Hannover Messe, highlighted Flender’s pivotal contribution to renewable energy. Minister Habeck’s presence underscored the crucial link between industry and the success of the energy transition.
On a tour of the Voerde plant, Minister Habeck witnessed the impressive scale of gearbox production. Flender’s gearbox plant dispatches an average of three to four wind gearboxes each day, destined for both onshore and offshore wind farms. The offshore counterparts, towering several metres high and weighing up to one hundred tonnes, are integral to power classes of up to ten megawatts. Minister Habeck expressed admiration for the technology, emphasising its fundamental role in achieving energy transition goals. He stated, “These technologies are the prerequisite to reaching our energy transition targets, and they are a masterpiece of engineering.”
During the tour, Flender employees offered Minister Habeck hands-on experience by allowing him to partake in various production steps. His involvement ranged from using a crane to insert the central planetary carrier into the gearbox to initiating the final test run of two offshore giants. Minister Habeck also participated in quality control measures, affirming his commitment to understanding and supporting the intricacies of industrial production.
While wind energy took center stage, Flender CEO Andreas Evertz underscored the symbiotic relationship between industry and the energy transition. He highlighted the necessity of traditional industries for producing the foundational materials required for renewable technologies. Evertz stressed that Flender’s gearboxes, beyond wind turbines, serve diverse industrial sectors, ensuring that essential materials are produced efficiently and sustainably.
The visit showcased Flender’s role in sustaining value creation and energy efficiency. Minister Habeck’s ascent of an assembly platform for a cement mill gearbox exemplified the complexity of Flender’s work in various sectors. Acknowledging the need for domestic value creation, Minister Habeck stated, “To reach our targets in the energy transition, we need value creation in our own country, and we need to involve existing companies like Flender.”
Evertz urged government support to bolster Germany’s competitiveness, citing energy prices as a challenge. He emphasised the significance of an economically viable business environment, particularly in a global context.
As offshore operations experience substantial growth, Flender anticipates new challenges. The increasing size of these drives will soon render road transportation unfeasible. In response, Flender is exploring the establishment of a waterfront manufacturing site, enabling efficient delivery to offshore wind farms via ship.
The visit culminated with a shared commitment to furthering the energy transition through innovative value creation. Minister Habeck’s support echoed the sentiment of collaboration between industry and policymakers in ensuring a sustainable future.
Flender CEO Evertz expressed hope for expedited resolutions, stating, “I hope that we will find a good solution in a timely manner.” The envisioned waterfront site could potentially lead to even larger and more impactful “Made in Germany” drive trains, underscoring the nation’s commitment to renewable energy on a global scale.
