Wind energy
Within the framework of European energy and climate policy, the aim is to gradually decarbonize the energy supply in order to become the world’s first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Already today, wind energy makes the largest contribution to renewable electricity generation and will be successively expanded. For offshore wind energy alone, EU targets call for Europe’s wind energy capacity to be expanded to at least 60 GW by 2030 and 340 GW by 2050. In recent decades, the wind sector has developed into a key global technology as a result of its technological dynamism.
Since as early as 2001, operators of wind power plants have been exchanging information on technical and environmentally relevant topics at an expert level within vgbe energy. Through the intensive exchange of experience, best practice solutions are developed and the knowledge gained is recorded in operating standards (vgbe standards). Currently, more than 130 experts actively participate in the exchange of experience in the wind energy committees of vgbe energy. The vgbe member companies operate wind turbines with a total capacity of more than 47,000 MW, which corresponds to around 25% of the installed capacity in the EU-27.
Activities
The exchange of experience and, in particular, the development of practice-oriented solutions for the operation of wind turbines is a supporting pillar of the association’s activities. vgbe energy supports the operation, maintenance and plant optimisation as well as techno-economic, environmental and strategic challenges, primarily dealing with:
- Increasing occupational safety
- Technical optimisation of performance
- Preventive maintenance strategies
- Applications in digitalisation
- Measures for operational IT/OT security
- Dismantling of wind turbines
The vgbe-Standards reflect the state of the art for the generation and storage of electricity and heat. They are developed in close cooperation with operators and manufacturers.
- Reference Designation System for Power Plants RDS-PP®: Application Guideline Part 32: Wind Power Plants
- Fire Protection in Onshore Wind Turbines
- Corrosion Protection for Offshore Wind Structures, Part 4: Cathodic Protection
- Corrosion Protection for Offshore Wind Structures, Part 3: Application of Coating Systems
- Corrosion Protection for Offshore Wind Structures, Part 2: Requirements for Corrosion Protection Systems
- Corrosion Protection for Offshore Wind Structures, Part 1: General
- Recommendations for thermal/mechanical generator protection
- Wind Turbines (WT) ─ Definitions and Indicators ─
For ordinary vgbe members, the subscription to the vgbe-Standards in electronic form (ebook) is included in the membership fee. Affiliated and sponsoring vgbe members receive the vgbe-Standards at reduced rates.
To support our members, we develop and operate various databases. These form the basis for improving safety standards in the energy industry and for conducting benchmarks.
To meet new challenges, vgbe energy offers collaborative research activities in which operators as well as manufacturers, universities, research institutes and the public sector pool their specific know-how and financial resources. This includes initiating and coordinating national and international research projects, building up know-how and knowledge transfer, and saving costs through joint research projects.
- Ice Detection Systems for Wind Turbines, Part III: Smart Operation of Wind Power Plants in Cold Climate (SOPWICO)
- DigiWind – The Digital Twin of a Wind Turbine
- DigiPoll@Energy 2020: digitalisation in the energy business
- Condition Monitoring of Wind Turbines, Part 2: SCADA-Based Condition Monitoring
- Ice Detection Systems for Wind Turbines, Part II: Field Test and Benchmark
- Ice Detection Systems for Wind Turbines, Part I: Best Practice Study
- Condition Monitoring of Wind Turbines, Part 1: Best Practice Study
General Presentation
vgbe energy | Wind Power is the first address for all operators of wind power plants regarding techno-economic, environmental as well as strategic issues and it acts as the hub for the wind energy sector in Europe.
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Technical programmes
vgbe energy with its leading role in understanding good and best practices in the operation of wind power is launching with the cooperation of its members’ various Technical Programmes. These programmes are part of the comprehensive activities of vgbe energy for the wind power sector to support the daily work in operation, maintenance and plant optimisation as well as in techno-economic, environmental and strategic challenges. Therefore, the programmes are open to both vgbe members and vgbe non-members.
WiPPeX – Wind Power Performance Data Exchange
Wind power plays a central role in the European energy mix and is essential for achieving the EU’s climate policy goals. Through the integration of advanced technologies and the optimization of operational and maintenance processes, the efficiency and reliability of wind turbines are continuously improved.
The goal of the program is to provide wind farm operators with an extensive database that offers access to a larger pool of data. This expanded data base allows operators to better assess the performance of their wind turbines and make informed decisions to optimize their operational and maintenance strategies. Our program promotes the shared use and analysis of operational data to support continuous improvements and higher efficiency in the wind energy sector.
Implementation of the EU taxonomy in the energy industry: Part 1 - the delegated climate act
The EU Taxonomy Regulation (2020/852) establishes a classification system of environmentally sustainable economic activities.
As detailed technical criteria have to be fulfilled and documented, vgbe energy supports the energy industry (utilities, manufacturers, etc.) in assessing their environmentally sustainable activities, applying the Climate Delegated Act of the EU Taxonomy. Activity-specific workshops will enabled participants to exchange and discuss approaches, to share their experience and expectations related to the EU Taxonomy as well as to align ways of fulfilment and documentation.
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Our team
Dr Mario Bachhiesl
Head of Renewables and Distributed Generation, Health and Safety
Akalya Theivendran
Assistant Wind Energy