ZF Wind Power has delivered 205 gigawatts of wind gearboxes and powertrains worldwide, both for onshore and offshore applications. Where are its primary markets?
The company's main markets are Europe, the United States, India, Australia, Brazil, and parts of Latin America and South Africa. ZF has a global presence with its wind projects, though the smallest fleet is in China due to the country ceasing to purchase Western wind turbine products.
How is ZF Wind Power decarbonizing its own operations?
ZF aims to utilize 100% renewable electricity across all its operation facilities by 2025. Therefore, ZF is heavily investing in wind and solar energy for its facilities. In Lommel only, we have recently installed 15,000 solar panels, covering a surface of 35,000m2. This is the equivalent of 5 football fields producing approximately 7,513 MWh of electricity annually. ZF strives to improve its own energy efficiency by 3% each year by implementing measures to reduce energy consumption.
All suppliers for ZF Wind Power must use 100% renewable electricity by 2025, making it impossible to purchase from suppliers who do not meet this requirement. In regions like China and India, where renewable energy availability is limited, suppliers buy a portion of renewable energy and allocate it to ZF. This creates pressure on suppliers to increase renewable energy procurement, ultimately pushing governments and suppliers to invest more in renewable energy. ZF is targeting full CO2 neutrality in the complete supply chain in all three scopes by 2040.
What are the big obstacles for the EU in achieving its renewable energy targets?
The EU faces several obstacles in achieving renewable energy targets, particularly resistance from local communities. In countries like India and China, where energy sourcing is less politically driven, renewable installations are more easily executed. However, in Europe, public opposition to wind turbines and complex permitting processes create significant delays.
The European Commission is on the right track with regulations, but their success depends on how well they are implemented by member states. In countries like Germany, with a government that strongly supports renewables, progress is fast, with installations and permitting speeds greatly improved. However, the pace of change is often influenced by local political contexts, such as a government’s ties to coal industries or other energy sources.
Since 2022, when sanctions on Russian oil, gas and coal caused an energy crisis in Europe, wind and solar power has increasingly been talked of as a tool for national energy resilience, not just a tool to reach net-zero. Does this discourse benefit the RE industry?
The focus on defense and resilience has reframed the importance of renewable energy, as green energy is now seen as critical for energy sovereignty and security, which could spur renewed momentum for investments in renewables.
The strategic importance of renewable energy is clear; wind is an independent, decentralized energy source that is more resilient than centralized energy sources like nuclear power.
Wind turbines are difficult to target effectively, unlike nuclear plants, which could cause massive grid failures if hit.
What opportunities do you see for ZF to lead in the transition to a sustainable future?
ZF Wind Power holds a strong market share, around 40% in the Western markets and 25-28% globally, excluding China. Over the past 10-15 years, the company has maintained this position and plans to continue supporting the wind industry. As a major player in wind gearboxes and powertrains , ZF remains committed to supplying increasing amounts of clean energy each year and extending the life of older turbines through servicing, repowering, and lifetime extension efforts. Their focus remains entirely as a system partner on wind energy, with no plans to diversify into other sectors. ZF's vision is encapsulated in its slogan, "Empowering a sustainable future together."
