The cradle of the German wind industry for over 25 years, HUSUM Wind is the most important wind-energy trade fair for the German-speaking market. Every two years, it provides a forum for industry representatives to exchange views about important national issues such as the new amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act, service and maintenance, and grid expansion, as well as the latest market developments.
The exhibition will take place in the ‘wind state’ of Schleswig-Holstein, and attracts visitors and experts from all parts of the industry. HUSUM Wind hosts the who’s who of turbine manufacturers as well as project developers, component producers, suppliers, service providers and consultancy firms.
Nationwide industry ties
HUSUM Wind 2017 takes place 12-15 September 2017. Approximately 18,000 trade visitors and 650 exhibitors from Germany and its neighbouring countries are expected to showcase their products and services along the entire value chain.
This year’s partner state is North Rhine-Westphalia, continuing the concept of state partnerships that HUSUM Wind successfully introduced in 2015. This gives important markets and industry players from different regions of Germany the chance to introduce and position themselves. All 16 German states will be represented among the exhibitors. The partner associations of HUSUM Wind are the German Wind Association, the Schleswig-Holstein Renewable Energy Network Agency and the German Mechanical Engineering Industry Association.
Offshore and sector coupling
Following a number of interesting trends highlighted in the past, HUSUM Wind 2017 will focus on two themes of particular interest to the industry: offshore wind energy, and sector coupling and grid integration. The expansion of these fields is indispensable for the success of Germany’s shift to renewables.
Because of their great yields, offshore wind farms are making a growing contribution to Germany’s energy supply and 2017 is an exciting year for this sector. The results of the first round of calls for tender for offshore wind turbines show that technical advancement and intensive competition will make power generated by offshore wind farms cheaper. Tenders were awarded to four wind farms in the North Sea with an overall capacity of 1,490MW. Three of the four projects will require no state subsidies and will be financed by market prices alone.
While offshore wind farms play an important role in generating energy, sector coupling guarantees improved future use of the energy produced, making it a key technology for the shift to renewables. The increased dovetailing of the power, heat and transport sectors means that energy can be used directly wherever it happens to be needed. The subject of sector coupling represents a paradigm shift in the wind industry that prioritises the reliability of supply and the optimal use of generated resources. Because of this, HUSUM Wind 2017 is providing a special platform for the fields of offshore wind energy and sector coupling. This year, there will be dedicated exhibition halls focused on offshore wind and sector reliability for the first time, as well as special forums for each topic. The current status of the respective technologies will be discussed in a series of lectures that will also give insight into future challenges and opportunities. The revamped exhibition concept enables increased focus on future-oriented areas in the wind industry.
Conversation starters
HUSUM Wind is organised by Messe Husum & Congress. Positioned as a significant national wind trade fair for the German-speaking region, the event covers a variety of issues within the sector, and it’s not afraid to tackle the most difficult topics.
Peter Becker, managing director at Messe Husum & Congress, refers to legislation and market competition as some of the conversations the industry is currently having.
"The current reform of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) has brought forth some fundamental changes, signalling a paradigm shift, and they pose a real challenge for the industry," he says. "After years of government subsidies, the wind industry is being released into the next level of the energy revolution. The free market and its strong competition will change the face of the German wind industry while also leading it back to its original idea: to use wind power as the energy of the future.
"In this important year, HUSUM Wind will more than fulfil its function as a crucial platform for the industry representatives to exchange views. Here, the first results of the bidding rounds will be discussed and evaluated, and the course for the years ahead will be set. There is a great deal of speculation about the significance of the EEG amendment for us all. What consequences and challenges we will have to face in the future is something only time can tell."
Broad offering
North Rhine-Westphalia ranked third in the national development of wind energy last year, just behind Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. With its partnership, HUSUM Wind has gained a federal state in which wind energy already plays a major role and will continue to do so in the future.
With the special emphasis on offshore as well as sector coupling and system integration, the event has set a focus on topics of key importance to the industry. For visitors interested in the wind industry as an employer and trainer, the fair offers a ‘Windcareer’ section, where interested parties can find out about career, training and retraining opportunities in the wind industry, and establish first contacts.
"HUSUM Wind is not just an opportunity to gain information, but also to interact with others, and establish and cultivate one’s own network," Becker says.
