OECD commends Central Denmark Region - Region Midtjylland

A1.5-metre high model of a wind turbine at DirectorAnders Rebsdorf’s office in Silkeborg isat first glance the only indication that one ofChina’s largest wind turbine manufacturers,Envision Energy, is based here. The Chinese companymoved here because Denmark is the place to be whenit comes to wind turbine knowledge and innovation.This was the conclusion of the Chinese director andfounder of Envision Energy, Lei Zhang, when he lookedat several European countries with a view to findingthe location for his global innovation centre.Ably assisted by Invest in Denmark, Lei Zhang wasconvinced that Envision Energy would benefit from thehigh level of expertise in wind turbines here in Denmark.He handpicked Anders Rebsdorf, who had many years ofexperience from Vestas, Gamesa and DONG, as Director.Silkeborg was chosen as the location as it offers the opportunityto recruit from a wide area. And since the startwith just one employee, many engineers have joined.Now there are 30 employees, three of whom are Chinese,and the company is outgrowing its premises while developinga new wind turbine for the Chinese owner. Close tothe cradle of the Danish wind turbine adventure.First “baby” developedHanging in the canteen are pictures of the innovationcentre’s first “baby”. An offshore turbine, which is readyfor testing in Thyborøn in collaboration with DONG andRisø, while a larger turbine, which is to be tested at thenational test centre in Østerild, is under way. EnvisionEnergy’s ambition is to erect the first foreign turbineon Danish soil in collaboration with Danish or Europeanpartners.“We’re still kind of on trial, but we will of course continueto talk about the benefits of our technology,” saysAnders Rebsdorf.“Our Chinese sponsors have invested a lot of moneyin establishing the innovation centre, and so far thehighly paid employees have ensured healthy tax revenuesin Denmark. But the owner also expects to getsomething back to support our development activities.”Older brother in ChinaEnvision Energy also has a development departmentin China, which is about twice the size of the one inSilkeborg, and e-mails, conference calls and visits flowback and forth between the two branches. The olderbrother in China learns from the younger brother inDenmark.“The primary objective of our department is the developmentof technology and patents. In addition, we givethe department in China direction and teach them newmethods and processes. And help pave the way for closecooperation with suppliers,” says Rebsdorf.“As Danes, we also learn from the prevalence of dynamismand commitment in China.”In Denmark, Envision Energy works extremelyclosely with subcontractors, many of whom are fromCentral Denmark.“We would like to be the third largest producer ofwind turbines in Denmark after Vestas and Siemens,but we do it differently by giving subcontractors greaterresponsibility. We help optimise them so that theybecome sharper and benefit from the knowledge theygather,” explains Rebsdorf.“It would be great if other wind turbine manufacturersfrom outside settled here because of the extensiveaccumulated knowledge. This would provide asynergistic effect, as we would challenge one anotherand the subcontractors.”A bigger sceneThe fact that Denmark invests heavily in wind energy,including in the Government’s 2020 plan, means a lot toforeign investors, stresses Anders Rebsdorf, who sits onthe board of the Danish Wind Industry Association.“Fortunately, for many years we have had ambitiouspoliticians who know that there are jobs in wind energy.Foreign investment can help ensure that Denmarkwill be even more competitive in this field, and that wecan maintain a wind power hub,” he says.Anders Rebsdorf has nothing but praise for Investin Denmark and expects it to succeed in attracting furtherforeign investors to this part of the world.“They see opportunities in competition. They simplythink in terms of a bigger stage than many in Denmark.I could potentially see DONG, for example, thinkingbig like this. They might just learn something fromworking with a Chinese energy company,” Rebsdorfexplains.Hospitality is called forAccording to the director, there are challenges for aChinese wind company in Denmark.“In the space of two years, we have built up an innovationcentre and developed a new turbine, which weneed to test and demonstrate. The Chinese have footedthe bill, but it has been a challenge getting permissionto erect the turbine at the port in Thyborøn. We haveworked hard for this, and paid a lot for it. It would bemore hospitable if foreign firms were asked: What doyou need? How can we help you?” he points out. But heis glad that he said yes to heading the Envision GlobalInnovation Centre.“This is my opportunity to develop new, cutting-edgewind turbine technology, and the first two years havebeen very exciting. It’s a bit of an adventure,” he says.New book on education and vulnerable youthsA book entitled “Unge, uddannelser og sårbarheder” (Youth,education and vulnerabilities) is part of the “Mentallyvulnerable youths” study project, which the Regional Councilof Central Denmark Region helped finance with just underDKK 1.7 million from the education development pool. Theobjective of the project was to procure new knowledge aboutthe relationship between youths, education and vulnerability,with a view to more young people having the opportunity tocomplete a youth education programme.The project analyses vulnerability as both a psychological anda social phenomenon. It focuses on the relationship betweenindividual youths and youth education programmes and othersocial institutions.Read the book in full in Danish at www.rm.dk/via70670.htmlInformation: marianne.asstrupudsen@sosuranders.dkDIALOGUE theme: The Region through outsiders’ eyes 11