The network
The Wind Energy Agency Bremerhaven / Bremen (WAB), as a regional network, boosts the innovative and dynamic wind energy industry in the northwest corner of Germany. WAB counts more than 220 businesses and institutes as members. WAB goals are to: - strengthen and expand the wind energy network - foster cooperation between science and business - develop offshore wind power - promote repowering, the replacement of old turbines with new and more efficient ones. WAB is supported by funding from the State of Bremen and the European Union.
Main activities
WAB is involved in a wide range of activities in four areas: repowering (replacing old wind turbines with new ones), offshore wind power development, training, and fostering international contact and cooperation. WAB's work in distributing information and managing events includes organising the annual international conference "WINDFORCE – Direction Offshore" on offshore wind power, initiating study trips, seminars and workshops on up-to-date topics of interest to the industry, finding opportunities for cooperation, and identifying needs for research. WAB also publishes a newsletter every two months in German and English.
To strengthen the network and expand the field of contacts, WAB also takes care of setting up joint information booths at leading specialist trade fairs where members of the network can receive national and international attention.
WAB supports training activities and works together with ForWind, the centre for wind energy research, and the city of Oldenburg on an advanced course of study in wind energy technology and management that is unique in Germany. For more information on this programme, please go to: www.windstudium.de.
WAB's assistance is available to its members free of charge or at low cost; members can take advantage of WAB's services and advisory functions, and make suggestions for new projects.
The technological focus
WAB is the wind energy sector's leading industrial association in Germany's northwest region; its more than 220 members are involved in most phases of wind turbine production. The enterprises involved include turbine and rotor blade manufacturers, steel companies, businesses that oversee logistics, experts in environmental impact assessment, specialists in forecasting wind strength and direction, institutes involved in basic and applied research, and business administrators. Members of the WAB network are involved in every capacity from initial design and planning to the construction and operation of multi-megawatt turbines on land and at sea. 17 large national business groups and many small and medium-sized enterprises with core business in offshore wind energy have joined WAB. Seven educational establishments and ten institutes carry out research and development related to the industry. A list of WAB members can be viewed on the WAB website.
