ENABL: To be Wherever Wind Is_Interview with Michael Lund Gregersen, Senior Operation Manager of ENABL A/S

When new trends and new technology appear, customers want bigger production lines, larger modules, and larger implements. But at present, there is no corresponding product on the market that has been designed. Sometimes we and R&D department will brainstorm together, thinking about what ENABL can do. What interesting thing will come up? The first thing is always to build a model to perform tests and calculations for interface tuning.

Michael Lund Gregersen, Senior Operation Manager of ENABL A/S

By Xin-En WU

　　"I think the most interesting thing about working in the energy sector is understanding that energy can be transformed in many forms. Regarding energy, the current technology has led us to a considerable core field, where we have been able to convert certain quantities of energy types into another form of energy. It is now possible to use the kinetic energy of nature, such as wind, sunlight, or the ocean, to produce energy and provide the energy source needed for life. Maybe it's related to my background. I have mechanical and electrical engineering background in the heavy power industry and the energy industry. Before joining ENABL, I was also engaged in the field related to the power generation industry," said Michael Lund Gregersen, Senior Operation Manager of ENABL A/S.

　　Entering the Taiwan market in 2019 and officially changing its name to ENABL A/S in 2021, ENABL is a global enterprise of the seven subsidiaries of the Eltronic Group (ENABL A/S, Dynatest A/S, Eltronic FuelTech A/S, Eltronic A/S, Data Intelligence A/S, HE Marine A/S, and Epcido) providing a one-stop turnkey solution for the onshore and offshore wind industries. Headquartered in the Danish municipality of Hedensted, ENABL possesses 20 years of engineering expertise with subsidiaries in Taiwan, the United Kingdom, the United States, Bulgaria, Ukraine, India, and the Chinese mainland. At present, there are more than 10,000 onshore and offshore wind power projects worldwide.

　　Michael has been working in ENABL for five years. As Senior Operation Manager, he is currently responsible for managing ENABL's onshore and offshore wind project interfaces, production line design, and project management. " We offer solutions in Engineering Services & Outsourcing, Equipment, and Global Service. We specialize in production, installation, transportation, testing and service equipment for towers, monopiles, blades, and nacelles. As far as the technical aspect is concerned, it can be divided into the design and manufacture of mechanical and electrical equipment and service providing for onshore and offshore construction projects," said Michael.

　　The design can generally be divided into two criteria: mechanical and electrical. ENABL design and manufactures e.g. all the corresponding electromechanical equipment needed to assemble the WTGs, including the nacelle, blades, and tower. "The electromechanical equipment includes the design of production line processes, electronic robotic arms, implements, lifting equipment, various mechanical parts, and even the testing and design of mechanical equipment that can be used for testing, which is common in marine-related industries and major heavy industries. ENABL is a multinational company where we can design according to industries need and also satisfy customized specifications worldwide according to the standards required by the purpose," Michael said.

　　When it comes to the wind turbine industry, the primary concern of people is the design technology of the wind turbine system. Michael adds that in addition to the design part, almost all critical projects that touch the wind turbine can become ENABL's deliveries, including the fastening, hoisting, and equipment testing during offshore installation. However, it requires various fields and technologies when manufacturing the rotor and the tower. What resources and the management of different subtle interfaces of the wind turbine are involved at the same time while producing, such as the process, production line, electromechanical, large-scale heavy lifting, and engineering talents? ENABL seems to have a standardized but also considers the customized management mode.

Standardized or Customized－It depends on the maturity of the industry and the market

　　"We have the core technology of design, we can customize the equipment according to the conditions, and because with the expansion of the industry and the market, we also have sufficient conditions to provide standard products. We can do both, but it also depends on market demand and the point in time when it's appropriate and sufficient to offer/as a standard product. It is the state of necessity. If the industry is mature enough, many customers in the market want to buy the same type of goods. Of course, we can sell it as a standard product. However, if each time a different company wants you to provide exclusive products, projects, or services, the products we design and the services we provide are owned by the customer," Michael indicated.

　　For example, sometimes wind turbine companies will ask ENABL to provide exclusive solutions, products, or services but also requires that all services offered by ENABL, including design drawings, are exclusive to those companies. "Products, solutions, and services that have been customized cannot be copied or even sold separately because the ownership belongs to our clients. Defining when to offer a standard product and when to offer a dedicated product involves complicated calculations. It also involves whether the market and industry are mature enough. Based on our capacity, we have provided in both," Michael said.

　　Talking about the trend of WTGs getting bigger, it is always a process "laborious but full of expectations," from Michael's point of view. "When new trends and new technology appear, customers want bigger production lines, larger modules, and larger implements. But at present, there is no corresponding product on the market that has been designed. Sometimes we and R&D department will brainstorm together, thinking about what ENABL can do. What interesting thing will come up? The first thing is always to build a model to perform tests and calculations for interface tuning."

　　"It involves more than just going to the market and buying some materials or bolts and nuts and inserting them into the machine. It must be involved in modeling, design, and co-development in an early stage. We've been in the industry for many years. Many of the standard products used today are largely custom-specific items that have been designed or delivered in the past. Now we're talking about new products, and when the industry reaches a certain scale, it will also become standardized products in a few years," Michael explained.

　　As far as Michael observed, ENABL was involved in the manufacture of the first wind turbine several years ago, which was about 1MW at that time. The engineers at that time said: It can't get any bigger because the blades are too long, it will collapse! Today, the market develop 14MW and 15MW wind turbines. Michael emphasizes: "Instead of designing the wind turbines, ENABL of today can provide the designs, manufacturing and servicing of all the interfaces to be used to install the WTGs."

Customized management of each WTGs installation, transportation, machinery, and equipment of the corresponding service and cooperation team

　　Interface management and coordination are built-in greater detail than component assembly or the manufacture of electromechanical equipment. Michael said: "The whole WTGs system, including the nacelle, hub, blades, and tower. How meticulously is the interface to be handled? For example, whether it is transport or installation of the blade, we will need a crane to lift the blade (or component). But the lifting crane usually has only the hook. The blade is easily scratched or even causes damage when the hook directly touches the blade. That is the interface between the crane and the blade that ENABL will manage."

　　Michael further explained that cranes provide services rather than being designed separately for rotors, so ENABL must install auxiliary machines or equipment to ensure safe and smooth lifting and construction of WTGs. "Our technical team must also go out to sea to monitor all installation processes. ENABL works with the engineers of the wind turbine company and the personnel on the working vessels while the wind turbine is installed. It is one of the core businesses of ENABL for when to support and when to mobilize as a whole," Michael said.

　　It is merely the vertical aspect of interface management. As for the horizontal surface, the interface that ENABL must master also extends to the life cycle of the wind farm construction. "Whether the WTGs are transported to various countries (ports), including loading and unloading, offshore construction, and subsequent maintenance, ENABL is also responsible for maintaining all equipment or components during the process. Our machines and equipment are often placed in the customer's factory, and sometimes we provide the production and operation team with the required inspection and tool adjustment services. Our interface horizontally involves every important stage of wind farm development and construction. You always must remember that you're managing and adjusting every interface and detail," Michael said.

To train, understand, meet standards, perform work safely, and synchronize worldwide

　　"Every Monday, we have a meeting to start with a safety review. Safety is essential, not just: we will pay attention to safety issues. The requirement for safety is 'must be.' Many interfaces are connected. Simply the drop of a device or a personal injury means that all interfaces of the work have safety and management problems, and it damages the workforce and all other connected interfaces associated with the work, which is a considerable risk," said Michael.

　　For Michael, "zero tolerance" represents professionalism. "We're not just talking about the professional for the mechanical or technical part. The most important thing is to tell them that safety always comes first. The wind turbine industry has developed many standards and training for reasons. For those responsible for installation work, the GWO courses are one of the basic standards. Staff is forbidden to get on the vessels or go to sea without proper training. We have a process that needs to be followed, and if not, you are not allowed to enter the site. Our profession is to train, understand, meet the requirements of the standard, and then perform all the work safely," Michael emphasized.

　　The ENABL headquarter has a corresponding set of SOPs for all work items. For instance, Michael's main task in Taiwan was to synchronize the standards of the project and train Taiwanese colleagues on how to carry it out. "Synchronization also involves the sharing and updating all file data, that is, the establishment of digital systems. If I need a document from my colleague, I can go into our digital file platform system and find the exact document I need, not just on my colleague's computer and email. It allows us to work simultaneously wherever we are. All documents, including orders, regulatory standards, research projects, and schedules, must be uploaded to the system. The comparability lies in digitalization."

　　For an international company like ENABL ,synchronization is both a task and art: establishing a set of management standards that apply to the whole system and considering regional culture standards. Michael: "For example, all ENABL subsidiaries must operate worldwide following global management standards on the same page. Because our business expands to different regions, if each one of us does things differently, the company will lose control of the general direction. That's why all our colleagues need to be 'synchronized,' to work on the same basis. But it's not that everyone has to work the same way."

　　Taiwan is about to formulate its offshore wind farm construction standard. How is it coordinated and coherent with the company's standards if there are corresponding local regulations? Michael explains, "Clarifying local regulations is an absolute priority. Take the safety specifications as an example. Taiwan will define a minimum safety line. We will fully agree and refer to the local regulations if they meet and even have higher requirements when compared with the headquarters standards. It will encounter some situations where both parties cannot find standards or precedents to refer to, and we must specifically find out which side it is and understand the reasons behind the specification. However, many of Taiwan's construction standards follow international ISO or IEC standards."

To be wherever wind is

　　"The transformation and condition of the world today is the same as the outlook we saw in 2000. The energy transition initiative has always been there. Twenty years ago, or even ten years ago, many people weren't sure how much value we could create, but we just did our best to make every "possibility" comes true gradually," said Michael.

　　"The onshore wind technology was the mainstream of renewables in the past. Many people were optimistic about its prospects, and many saw its challenges and constantly improved efficiency. Then the offshore wind technology appeared, the cost was higher, and the process was complicated, but people who invested accumulated experience by constantly improving the technology. Offshore wind farms are gradually becoming the energy-mix strategy. Times have changed, the environment has been changing, and we always have confidence in Taiwan's wind industry," Louis Lin, General Manager of ENABL Taiwan, also said.

　　"Plenty of wind turbines have been installed worldwide, and wind energy is becoming the dominant energy option in many countries to some extent. So, imagine what ENABL can do next? Maybe the wind turbine will change greatly in the future, maybe not. No matter how the industry evolves, the wind energy industry will continue. But then again, when the sun suddenly doesn't glow, we can't make solar energy; When the wind doesn't blow, and the wind turbine can't produce energy, what do we do? Storage of energy could be an option and is being heavily looked into these days, but I don't have an exact answer to that, but for ENABL, we see a huge future, not only in Taiwan but everywhere, and we expand all over the world. That's our goal, which ENABL's slogan means, we are Wherever Wind Is," said Michael.