Wind farm operators and investors are facing a growing number of challenges. Today, operations management requires striking a balance between day-to-day operations and future-oriented concerns. In addition to ensuring high technical availability and cost-effective plant operation, operators must increasingly address regulatory, safety-related, and strategic issues. The range of topics is extremely diverse: from information security (NIS-2) and changes to the EEG 2027 to ESG reporting requirements under the CSRD and new billing procedures in Redispatch 2.0, as well as cable pooling, control technology for hybrid farms, the integration of battery energy storage systems (BESS), mowing management, and, for example, solutions for burglary protection, in order to adequately meet the physical security requirements of NIS-2.
At WindEnergy in Hamburg, wpd windmanager GmbH & Co. KG will be demonstrating in Hall A1 at Booth 237 how modern operations management supports customers and partners in operating their wind and solar farms in a future-proof manner, even under changing regulatory, technical, and economic conditions.
“As an operations manager, we are increasingly in demand as a strategic partner,” explains Henning Rüpke, Director of International Operations at wpd windmanager GmbH & Co. KG. “We must identify developments early on, act proactively, and continuously develop new solutions—and we do so on an international scale, since many of our customers operate their assets in different countries.”
The ISO-certified 24/7 control center, which meets the high requirements of the European NIS-2 Directive, plays a central role in operations management. “We use our control center not only for our own customers but also offer it to other operators,” clarifies Axel Stelzer, Director of Technical Operations. “Here, we monitor over 2,800 plants worldwide. However, our remote monitoring services now go far beyond mere monitoring.” In the control center, for example, wpd windmanager controls the new intrusion protection system, manages grass cutting, and coordinates plant shutdowns when electricity prices turn negative.
Demands are rising. That’s why, in addition to traditional operations management for wind and solar farms, the company is continuously expanding its own service portfolio. “As an operator, we’re always looking for ways to best support plant owners,” says Jonas Lesch, Head of Sales and Service Development. “For example, we’re constantly developing new additional services that we offer independently of our commercial and technical operations management: We handle municipal tax payments for operators, create emergency management plans, manage new billing procedures for redispatch, and monitor balancing and replacement measures.” But development continues to advance. Issues such as the integration of battery storage systems, the control of hybrid parks, and new regulatory requirements are constantly creating new areas of responsibility to which both operators and operations managers must adapt.
With over 7.2 gigawatts of total capacity from the operation of wind and solar farms, wpd windmanager has extensive market and industry experience. The management of international portfolios, close collaboration with operators, investors, manufacturers, and authorities, as well as expertise from various markets, form the foundation for new, practical solutions.