DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN ENERGY IN ASSOCIATION WITH
Nordex Group
DIGITAL REPORT 2020
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NORDEX GROUP: DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN ENERGY WRITTEN BY
SEAN GALEA-PACE PRODUCED BY
TOM VENTURO
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NORDEX GROUP
John McComas, Head of Project Management at Nordex North America, discusses the impact of digital transformation in the energy space amidst the launch of a new wind turbine platform
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s one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, Nordex Group provides high-yield, cost-efficient wind turbines
under the Acciona Windpower and Nordex brands. Nordex has production facilities in Germany, Spain, Brazil, the US, Argentina, Mexico and India 04
and produces nacelles, hubs, rotor blades and concrete towers across its offices in 25 countries. Following its acquisition of Acciona Windpower in 2016, Nordex became a major player in the energy space. John McComas is Head of Project Management at Nordex North America. Having originally joined Acciona Windpower North America in August 2007 as a Supply Chain Analyst, McComas worked in several different positions before moving into his current role in May 2017. Having achieved considerable success over the past few years, McComas points to his company’s product line as a driving factor. “Our product line between the Nordex and Acciona turbines is flexible, cost effective, and client driven,” explains McComas. We’re not afraid of entering into markets where other organisations feel uncomfortable.”
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NORDEX GROUP
“ WE CAN’T HAVE JUST ONE WAY OF DOING THINGS ACROSS A DIVERSE RANGE OF MARKETS. IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE ADAPT TO WHAT THE REQUIREMENTS ARE” — John McComas, Head of Project Management, Nordex North America
A key area of priority to McComas is the company’s client approach. “We have an approach with our clients which is quite the opposite of ‘take it or leave it’,” he says. “It’s about trying to foster a relationship
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and learn what the constraints, challenges and economic model inputs are in order for the projects to be successful.” Having worked in several different markets, McComas acknowledges that every individual sector has its own unique challenges. “What makes us successful is our approach,” he explains. “We can’t have just one way of doing things across a diverse range of markets. It’s important that we adapt to what the requirements are.” Another important area of focus to McComas is the introduction of new technology. He understands the growing impact digitalisation is
Delta4000 Series Start: N149/5X & N163/5X (ENG) CLICK TO WATCH
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07 having on the energy industry and
Since its purchase of Acciona
beyond. “Digital transformation
Windpower in 2016, there has been
is one of the biggest opportunities
a noticeable shift in operations.
facing most markets at the moment,”
“Acciona Windpower product technol-
says McComas. “We used to spend
ogy was typically deployed in large
lots of time and effort collecting,
wind farms cost of energy focused
analyzing and correcting information
markets, in comparison to the Nordex
and data that came to us from paper-
technology which was deployed at
based sources. We’re flooded by
smaller wind farms in Europe that
the onset of tools, techniques, pro-
had specific requirements,” says
cesses and data, so it’s important
McComas. “Those requirements
that we use it in the right way. With
were prevalent primarily in Germany,
increased efficiency comes the
Scandinavia and the UK and that
opportunity to be safer, more quality
technology was very successful
centered, and strategic.
in those markets. However, since the w w w.no rdex- o nl i n e. com
NORDEX GROUP
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“ DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITIES FACING MOST MARKETS AT THE MOMENT” — John McComas, Head of Project Management, Nordex North America
to launch a turbine platform with
merge a few years ago, we have put
strategy. The Delta4000 turbine
in considerable effort to combine that
adapts to the grid operators’ individ-
technology into one platform.”
ual needs, local wind conditions as
a flexible rating as part of its core design philosophy and operation
That platform is the Delta4000. The
well as noise constraints. Through
Nordex Group was the first company
the platform, the Nordex Group relies
on tried-and-tested series production
to create a platform that best serves
technology. The primary aim is to
the needs of our clients,” explains
reduce the cost of energy by design-
McComas. “This product line is a sig-
ing turbines which provide much
nal to the marketplace that the merger
higher yields from any given site. Its
between both organisations has been
Delta 4000 portfolio demonstrates
finalised and our recent commercial
the N155/4.5, N133/4.8, N149/5.X
success with it proved that we are
and N163/5.X wind turbines.
here to stay.”
McComas believes that the new
McComas believes in the value of
platform delivers a clear message
partnerships. Nordex has established
to the marketplace. “What we set out
key, strategic relationships with Appia
to do was take the best parts from
Wind Services, DSV Air & Sea and
both the Nordex and Acciona plat-
ATS, in addition to collaborations with
forms and merge them together
global energy leaders such as Engie,
E XE CU T I VE PRO FI LE
John McComas John McComas is a results-orientated, strategic and bi-lingual manager with experience in a range of wind farm supply and construction. McComas has a verifiable track record in four different countries for the successful completion of utility scale projects ranging from 45 to 304.5MWs. He manages site teams, maintaining the site P&L and creating positive working relationships with colleagues, contractors, suppliers and clients. He has been in his current position since May 2017. w w w.no rdex- o nl i n e. com
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Appia Wind Services is a company dedicated to blade maintenance and repairs in the composite wind energy field. We provide rapid deployment of experienced technicians to complete tasks at hand.
Learn More
Powering your logistics to the next level When your needs are out of the ordinary, trust the DSV experts. www.dsv.com/project-transport
1985
Year founded
6,800 Number of employees
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Announcing N163/5X CLICK TO WATCH
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0:32
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Enel, Duke, Acciona Energy, and others “We want to work hand in hand with our clients in order to generate collaborative solutions,” he says. “It’s important that we meet our commitments and ensure that we’re transparent and are working together in a collaborative manner to resolve issues. We understand that if we make a mistake then being open and honest is essential. We don’t try and hide; we strive to learn from our mistakes. Being open and honest with 13
NXG Service Technicians EN V1 CLICK TO WATCH
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NORDEX GROUP
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“ Being open and honest with every partnership is essential and if we want to foster long-term growth, we understand we have to work collaboratively and transparently” — John McComas, Head of Project Management, Nordex North America
every partnership is essential and if we want to foster long-term growth, we understand we have to work collaboratively and transparently.” With the future in mind, McComas has a vision of where he expects Nordex to be over the next few years. “We’ve almost doubled the growth of the overall organisation in just a few years and we aim to continue in that vein,” he says. “Moving forward, our plan is to focus on the execution of our commitments and make sure we deliver on the projects that we’re undertaking.” McComas also harbours ambitions of transforming The Nordex Group to being considered a leader in wind turbine supply construction and commissioning. “It’s a pivotal year for us,” summarises McComas. “We’ve already established ourselves as a top tier supplier globally for wind turbines and we want to continue to scale.”
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NORDEX GROUP 300 S WACKER DR 1500 CHICAGO IL 60606 USA T +1 312 386 4100
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