Que: Senvion India has surpassed 1 GW of installed capacity. Could you share the key strategies that led to this achievement?

Ans: This milestone represents a significant aspect of our people, the strength of our technology, and the trust our customers have in us. From the beginning, our approach has focused on engineering quality suited for India. The country’s geography, wind regimes, and infrastructure challenges are quite varied, and we’ve structured our organisation to address that complexity.

Our strategy centred on three main areas: localisation, customisation, and execution. Our turbines are designed for Indian wind conditions, allowing for effective performance in low-to-medium wind zones. Our execution capabilities have established us a reliable OEM.

We improved our domestic supply chain to enhance delivery and servicing efficiency. Our engineering capabilities, stringent quality checks and robust Indo-German R&D, ensure improved energy yields for our customers. One GW is a notable milestone, but we have more to achieve.

Que: With over 80 percent localisation at the sub-component level, how is Senvion progressing towards 100 percent ‘Make in India’ production?

Ans: We view localisation not merely as a compliance requirement, but as a potential advantage in the market. Our turbines are designed in India, built in India, and are now being made for the global market. From our manufacturing facilities in Baramati, Trichy and a planned manufacturing plant in western India, we have expanded our sourcing ecosystem to include various Indian suppliers, covering blade materials and drivetrain components.

We’ve collaborated with partners to improve their quality systems to meet global standards. This collaboration enhances the value chain and improves the cost-competitiveness of our turbines, while also providing some protection against global supply disruptions. Reaching full localisation at the sub-component level is a process, and each step we take moves us towards a more self-sufficient manufacturing model that can cater to both Indian and international markets.

Que: Could you elaborate on the role Senvion India plays in supporting India’s wind energy targets under the government’s renewable energy vision?

Ans: India’s renewable energy vision is significant, necessary, and important. At Senvion, we consider ourselves an important contributor to this national mission. Whether it's the Green Energy Corridor or hybrid tenders, we align with the ongoing developments in the sector.

However, our actual impact is on the ground. We partner with our customers in accessing sites that were previously seen as unsuitable because of terrain, remoteness, or wind class. We perform wind resource and energy production analyses, supported by engineering reports specific to each location. This site-specific approach increases output, lowers risk, and accelerates project execution.

As we expand our manufacturing and engineering presence, we’re contributing to India’s manufacturing goals—working towards establishing the country as a centre for wind energy technology.

Que: How does predictive maintenance enhance turbine performance and reliability?

Ans: In wind energy, timing is important. When a turbine is down, each hour represents a reduction in generation. That’s where predictive maintenance makes a difference.

Instead of responding to failures, our FleetPro system continuously monitors turbine performance by tracking variables such as temperature fluctuations, vibration patterns, and power anomalies. The system identifies issues and predicts them. By analysing trends over time, we can identify and address potential disruptions.

This improves reliability and extends the life of the turbine, while also assisting operators in planning their maintenance windows more strategically, often during low-wind periods. The outcome is straightforward – improved uptime, reduced reactive firefighting, and enhanced returns for our customers.

Que: Can you highlight any specific digital diagnostic tools or AI-driven technologies that Senvion uses to optimise wind farm operations?

Ans: Our FleetPro platform is central to our digital strategy. It combines real-time turbine data, AI models, and intelligent diagnostics in one platform. Two notable modules within the system are Aero Guardian and Aero Weather.

Aero Guardian functions as a digital twin of the turbine, monitoring its performance and notifying us promptly if any issues arise. It allows our O&M teams some time to respond proactively. Aero Weather provides forecasting intelligence by anticipating changes in wind, temperature, or storm patterns, allowing the turbines to be optimised for those conditions in advance.

This integration of diagnostics, automation, and machine learning helps to reduce operational uncertainty and improve the yield and health of the wind park.

Que: How is Senvion leveraging R&D to create tailored solutions for India's renewable energy growth?

Ans: Innovation does not only mean enhancing size or higher generation, but also improving intelligence. At Senvion, we invest in R&D to address the practical challenges faced by Indian developers.

This philosophy guided the development of our 4.2M160 turbine. Engineered to operate effectively at low wind speeds, it marks an advancement in turbine design tailored for India. However, we will continue moving forward. Our teams in India and Germany are looking into new materials for blades and towers – lighter, recyclable, and possibly wooden options.

These efforts extend beyond performance metrics; they correspond with India’s long-term sustainability goals. We aim to develop turbines that are environmentally conscious and technically reliable for the future.

Que: What role does hybrid energy (wind-solar-storage) play in India’s renewable energy future, and is Senvion working on such solutions?

Ans: Hybrid energy solutions are an important step in India's renewable journey. Combining wind with solar and storage can help manage generation variability, making renewable power more usable and compatible with the grid.

Our focus is on wind, and we are collaborating with our customers on integrated approaches. This involves planning for co-located assets, understanding land-use optimisation, and examining smart control systems that can coordinate various sources in real time.

It’s still early, but the path is evident: hybrid is becoming more mainstream and is likely the way forward. We are prepared to be involved in that transition.