Dear readers of the vgbe energy journal,

The wind energy industry is undergoing a technological revolution. Wind power already accounts for almost a third of electricity consumption in Germany and around 19% in the EU1. In 2024, Germany was the leader in wind power expansion in Europe, installing over 4 GW of new capacity, 82% of which was accounted for by onshore plants. Repowering projects contributed significantly to this, with an installed capacity of 1.1 GW. Meanwhile, 557 onshore wind turbines with a total capacity of 712 MW were decommissioned, resulting in a net increase of around 2.6 GW in the onshore segment2. Currently, around 285 GW of wind power capacity is installed across Europe, with 248 GW onshore and 37 GW offshore.

This level of expansion requires new solutions to ensure efficient operation and grid integration. Despite challenges such as obtaining approvals and expanding the grid, numerous developments demonstrate how digitalisation, innovative operations management and increased system utility are taking wind energy to the next level.

Digitalisation in wind farm operation

Modern condition monitoring systems continuously collect operating data from rotor blades, gearboxes, generators and bearings. This data provides precise insights into the technical condition of the turbines and enables potential faults to be detected at an early stage, which is a key step towards greater efficiency, higher availability and better planning.

Based on this data, big data analyses and AI-based evaluations are becoming increasingly commonplace. These range from yield optimisation to automated fault diagnosis, such as the analysis of deviations from the performance curve or unusual vibration patterns.

The central remote control of entire wind farm portfolios is also becoming increasingly digitalised. One example is: Munich’s municipal utility company uses Enertrag’s PowerSystem software solution to market the wind power generated by its turbines. Around 1,250 MW of wind power, including 900 MW offshore, can be monitored and controlled across multiple locations. Meanwhile, IT companies are investing heavily in wind software to provide integrated asset management solutions for operators and plant managers. The trend is clear: networking and data-based control are becoming the new standard, from individual turbines to fleet optimisation.

Innovations in service operations

Service operations are also increasingly benefiting from digitalisation. Cloud-based tools and mobile applications simplify resource planning, organise maintenance orders more efficiently and improve communication between the control room and the service team. Technicians now often work on site with robust tablets or smartphones running specialised service apps. These provide digital checklists and maintenance logs that are automatically tailored to the specific type of turbine. Measurements can be recorded directly and damage reports can be attached. If necessary, documentation can be created offline and synchronised automatically later. The result is less paperwork, higher data quality and faster processes.

Another advance is the use of drones for inspecting rotor blades. These drones can quickly and safely inspect for cracks, erosion or mechanical damage, eliminating the need for complex rope access technology. All three rotor blades of a turbine can be inspected in a single flight. The image data obtained, often amounting to several hundred images per turbine, is then preselected, evaluated and documented.

This enables damage to be precisely located and tracked over time, providing a valuable basis for maintenance, repair and quality management.

Clearly, every new technology makes maintenance more efficient and cost-effective, and increases the long-term availability of wind turbines.

Grid integration and system utility

As the share of wind power grows, grid integration is becoming increasingly important. The good news is that modern wind farms are evolving from passive feeders to active system service providers. They provide reactive power and thus actively support voltage stability in the power grid.

For example, transmission system operator 50Hertz was the first in Germany to introduce market-based procurement of reactive power. This allows operators to generate extra revenue while contributing to grid stability. Although challenges such as bottlenecks and temporary curtailments remain, digitalisation offers solutions to these issues. Improved feed-in forecasts, intelligent load control, and new software tools can minimise the need for interventions.

The wind industry is demonstrating how technical hurdles can be transformed into progress. Digital operations management, innovative maintenance concepts and grid-integrated technologies are driving continuous development and strengthening the role of wind energy as a cornerstone of the energy transition.

WindEurope expects wind capacity in Europe ¹ to reach around 450 GW by 20301. This ambitious target can only be achieved through consistent technological development. However, we are on the right track: with digital support and a clear focus on innovation, the wind industry will consolidate and expand its position. Every new application, every optimisation and every grid solution brings us closer to this goal.

Sharing knowledge – vgbe energy

vgbe energy actively supports these developments. In technical committees, practical expert workshops and joint research projects, members exchange ideas on topics such as operational management, digitalisation and maintenance. This results in concrete solutions for everyday use and provides valuable impetus for innovation and standards.

Targeted sharing of experience, data and best practices increases the industry’s collective know-how. Progress is achieved together by exploiting synergies, in line with our motto:

‘Sharing knowledge – advancing wind energy together’.