On Wednesday, October 12th, the new SuRE and EMRE students took part in a visit to some renewable energy facilities around north-west Germany.

Firstly, after an early wake up, a kind bus driver (Moin addicted!) took us to an old windmill in Spetzerfehn which was constructed in 1886 and is still used to grind different types of corn. There, we could see first-hand how flour has traditionally been made during the past decades and is still being made in some places nowadays.

Next, we set course to the second stop of this whole day trip, the nacelle's assembly site of ENERCON, Germany´s biggest manufacturer of Wind Energy Converters (WEC), in Aurich. We received some explanations and tips on the fabrication of the nacelles from experienced workers such as Daniel Wienekamp, as well as many key concepts to consider regarding the design of this component.

Also invited by Enercon, we had the chance to ascend a real wind turbine located in a wind farm close to this industrial site. As stated by the students, the most shocking thing was the fact that during the visit the WT was operating and generating electricity power! 

Then, it was time for lunch, and what a better place to fill up the stomach than the North sea cost. The fish restaurant at Dornumersiel was a culinary discovery for most of us and the landscape motivated some funny group pictures. 

Later, we moved to an innovative farm nearby Hooksiel, where appart from its core business, energy production is a central matter. By harnessing farming and agriculture waste, they have practically achieved energy freedom and are able to get some benefits by selling their surplus in the electricity market. The combination of a 75 kW biogas engine, 2 small WEC (30 kW) and a grid-connected PV farm (167 kW) make it possible.

A visit to the wind energy testfield in Sengwarden completed this intense and fruitful day. There, new models of wind turbines from Vestas, Siemens Gamesa, GE Wind, Nordex Group, ENERCON, Repower and many others have been tested during the last decades for validation prior to market launch.

The organisation of such an amazing experience could not have been better and thus a big thank was given to Edu Knagge for taking charge of it. Undoubtedly, it was also a great opportunity for this fresh batch to make some teambuilding and to started to know each other!

- written by Héctor Álvarez González (EMRE 22-23)