BASF : Joint Press Release Energiekontor and BASF agree on a program to increase the efficiency of wind turbines

• Riblet structures bring up to three percent more yield
• Europe-wide sales and retrofitting of turbines by Omega-Tools GmbH

Energiekontor AG, a pioneer of renewable energies since 1990 and listed in the SDAX of the German Stock Exchange, is gradually equipping its wind turbines with Novaflex BladeUp together with the international maintenance company Omega-Tools GmbH and the Coatings division of BASF, making them more efficient. With its microscopic line structures, the functional film ensures a noticeable increase in the yield of wind turbines. The riblets reduce the formation of unfavorable air turbulence on the blade surface, so that a larger proportion of the wind can be used to generate electricity. In a measurement campaign that has been running for about a year, an increase in performance of up to three percent was determined; For this purpose, BASF Novaflex BladeUp was installed on a 1.3-megawatt SWT 1,300 (formerly AN Bonus) system in Ilsede, Lower Saxony.

“We are impressed by the significant increase in power yield with Novaflex BladeUp. It is all the more important that we implement this option promptly for our systems and thus make a contribution to the energy transition,” says Carsten Schwarz, member of the Executive Board of Energiekontor AG. The company has placed an initial order with Omega-Tools GmbH to equip wind turbines of the tested type with the BASF film and intends to include other types of systems. In the long term, Energiekontor AG wants to equip all available turbines – its own and those owned by the company – with Novaflex BladeUp.

For the professional laying of the foils, BASF worked closely with the Wind division of Omega-Tools GmbH. “Subsequent application of the functional film to existing wind turbines can be done without long downtimes of the system and can be carried out for every model,” says Olaf Dostalek, Managing Director of Omega-Tools GmbH, which takes over the European market with his company -wide use of Novaflex BladeUp the turbines of Energiekontor AG, and who acts as a contact and sales partner for this technology in the market.

BASF is also interested in extending Novaflex BladeUp to turbines and blades from other manufacturers and in other power classes. “An integration into the manufacturing processes of the rotor blade manufacturers would also be possible, so that new wind turbines can directly generate a higher electricity yield,” says Jörg Lenz, head of the Beyond Paint Solutions business unit at BASF.

About BASF:

Chemistry for a sustainable future, that’s what BASF stands for. We combine economic success with environmental protection and social responsibility. Around 111,000 employees in the BASF Group contribute to the success of our customers from almost every industry and in almost every country in the world. Our portfolio comprises six segments: Chemicals, Materials, Industrial Solutions, Surface Technologies, Nutrition & Care and Agricultural Solutions. In 2021, BASF achieved sales of €78.6 billion worldwide. BASF shares are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (BAS) and American Depositary Receipts (BASFY) in the USA. More information at www.basf.com.

About Omega Tools GmbH:

Omega-Tools GmbH is an international partner and service provider for manufacturers and operators of wind turbines. The portfolio of the company, which was founded in 2018 in Ritterhude near Bremen, includes classic service and maintenance as well as particularly demanding service work on onshore and offshore wind turbines of all kinds. As a dynamic think tank company with many years of wind power know-how, Omega Tools is involved special attention to the constant further development and integration of the latest products and applications with which the performance and yield of each wind turbine can be optimized. Flexible, powerful, reliable and ISO-certified for 9001, 14001 and 45001, Omega-Tools is active throughout Europe.

About Energiekontor AG:

A solid business policy and a lot of experience with renewable energies: This is what Energiekontor has stood for for over 30 years. Founded in Bremerhaven in 1990, the company is one of the pioneers in the industry and is now one of the leading project developers in Germany. The core business ranges from the planning and construction to the operational management of wind and solar parks in Germany and abroad. In addition, Energiekontor operates its own wind and solar parks with a nominal output of around 360 megawatts. Energiekontor AG also wants to play a pioneering role in economic terms and realize the first wind and solar parks as quickly as possible at market prices in all target markets, regardless of state subsidies.

In addition to the headquarters in Bremen, Energiekontor has offices in Bremerhaven, Hagen im Bremen, Aachen, Augsburg, Bernau near Berlin, Potsdam, Berlin-Spandau and Hildesheim. The company also has offices in England (Leeds), Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow), Portugal (Lisbon), the USA (Houston/Texas and Rapid City/South Dakota) and France (Toulouse, Rouen).

The proud record since the company was founded: 132 wind farms and 13 solar parks with a total output of well over 1 gigawatt. This corresponds to an investment volume of approx. 1.8 billion euros.

Energiekontor AG (ISIN DE0005313506/General Standard) is listed in the SDAX of the German Stock Exchange in Frankfurt and can be traded on all German stock exchanges.

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