Life-time and energy yield optimization in wind turbines remain key topics when looking how to reduce the CoE. To find out more about the topic, read the interview with Niels Emsholm, Team Fleet Manager at E.ON Climate & Renewables, where he discusses life-cycle cost challenges. Read more here: http://bit.ly/Emsholm-Interview

1. www.wind-drivetrain.com
Expert Interview with
Niels Emsholm
Team Fleet Manager, Technical Support
E.ON Climate & Renewables

2. IQPC: Before we start – can you tell us a little bit about yourself? How did you get started in the
wind industry and have you always been interested in the mechanics of drivetrains and engines?
Niels Emsholm: I started in thermal power plants working with process and combustion
optimization. In 2003, when I was looking for new challenges after years in load dispatch and
fuel procurement, I started in the wind industry. Actually, I was not especially interested in drivetrains
at first, but rather in WTG performance and RCA.
IQPC: Life-time and energy yield optimization remain key topics for the offshore wind industry
– where do you see the main challenges in this regard?
Niels Emsholm: One big challenge is of course to ensure balanced cost and maintenance cost while
enduring price pressure. Quality is always challenged in areas of fast development in technology and
cost-out exercises.
IQPC: While the wind industry is still relatively young, it has quickly become very competitive.
How do you see the industry headed in the next couple of year? Do you think that it is realistic
for finite resources to become almost obsolete as energy sources?
Niels Emsholm: Based on books I have read prior to Paris cop21, it does indeed look difficult, but
luckily momentum is gaining. However, securing jobs and keeping utilities OEMs (older plants and
wtgs) profitable during the improving transition period remains a challenge.
IQPC: You work as Team Fleet Manager at E.ON Climate & Renewables? Where is your current
main focus? Do you try to improve existing structures and technologies or is there a lot of effort
to develop new technologies altogether?
Niels Emsholm: My current main focus is improving supplier relations (expectations), performance
of existing fleet (increase key technical competences) and quality/efficiency of TDD and supply in the
development and construction area.
IQPC: In your presentation, you will be talking about new findings on the component level – can
you give us a quick introduction what you mean by that?
Niels Emsholm: Working across fleets with bigger portfolios has allowed us to categorize
differences in failure rates depending on age, vendor, geography, design and O&M allowing for each
component to have faster RCAs, more efficient inspections/preventive maintenance to reduce cost
while increasing energetic availability.
Expert Interview
Drivetrain concepts remain a field of big development. With a lot of innovation going and
exponential progress increasing potentials and demands there is still a lot of room for
discussion!Excitingtimesareaheadofus!WhichiswhyweareexcitedtohaveNielsEmsholm,
Team Fleet Manager &Technical Support at E.ON Climate & Renewables as a speaker at
the upcoming Drivetrain concepts event. He has extensive knowledge of the industry and a
deep understanding of the challenges and technical intricacies ahead. Before the event, we
had the chance to pick his brain and have a quick chat about drivetrain challenges and his
outlook on the energy landscape today. Read the full Q&A below!
www.wind-drivetrain.com

3. Expert Interview
IQPC: Of course we are looking forward to meeting you in November, but what are you most
looking forward to and what do you hope to see discussed at the conference in Bremen?
Niels Emsholm: I hope to be inspired by colleagues and learn where we still can improve and
where we may be doing double work or re-inventing processes that lie already between turbine
manufacturers and their OEMs.
IQPC: Mr. Emsholm, thanks for taking the time!
Meet Niels Emsholm and other experts for drive-
trains in wind turbines at our upcoming
6th
International Conference Drivetrain Concepts
for Wind Turbines taking place in Bremen from
November 30 till December 2, 2015.
Don’t miss out as slots are limited!
www.wind-drivetrain.com