With 105 GW of wind turbines in 80 countries, Vestas is truly a world leader in sustainable energy solutions. The company, founded in 1898, designs, manufactures, installs, and services wind turbines across the globe and has installed more wind power than any other company.
“Vestas is unique in that we are both the largest wind turbine energy solution provider in the world (with the longest history) and we are the only one that started devoted solely to wind,” explains Ryan Fertig, Head of Construction, U.S. Real Estate, for Vestas. “Others came in and augmented their businesses to add wind-powered solutions – but we started with wind.”
Fertig says that the always-changing nature of the wind industry means that the business model of wind turbine manufacturing is always being refined. “In construction and consulting there is a very standard way of executing projects,” he explains. “Within the wind industry though, change happens so quickly that the standard way of executing isn’t feasible anymore.”
In response, Vestas, which employs lean principles in its manufacturing process, has taken the same approach with its capital delivery process, breaking the process down into components that can be analyzed for waste and value. This allows the company to be more creative in its delivery. The company’s strategy is all about accountability, collaboration, simplicity, and passion.
Clean and sustainable energy for the future
According to the International Energy Association (IEA), energy demand worldwide grew by 2.3 percent in 2019, which is the fastest pace of growth this decade, driven by a robust global economy and stronger heating and cooling needs in several regions. At the same time, a large number of conventional power plants are aging and will be shut down.
This is why alternate solutions are so important. Vestas has the data to support the prediction that by 2020, as much as 10 percent of the world’s electricity consumption will be satisfied by wind power. It’s a source that is predictable, clean, independent, and innovative. Watch this brief video about why wind means the world to Vestas.
Vestas is a company built on tradition, but they’re always innovating. A single Vestas wind turbine will generate around 25 to 50 times more energy than it uses in its entire lifecycle, and a single Vestas wind turbine only emits around one percent of carbon dioxide when compared to a coal power plant. Vestas isn’t satisfied with just being a wind energy leader; they have their sights set on being a leading renewable energy solutions provider in the long term, potentially incorporating battery storage technology or other technology as needed to continue pioneering in the industry.
“Vestas innovates at every level,” says Fertig. “We are constantly examining our processes and products, whether that be on the capital delivery side, manufacturing, sales, or service, and breaking down a process to its fundamental parts to see if we can get the same function with a different methodology. We’re always looking for better solutions to our challenges.”
This drive for something better may be why Fertig decided to check out the Construction Users Roundtable (CURT) in the first place. He found that no one part of the capital delivery process had it all together but liked that CURT’s mission was simply to provide the best use for the capital dollar. “That’s really what we’re after,” says Fertig. “We were looking for a forum where we could work with people who were dealing with the same issues as we are, and who wanted to learn from each other and affect change.”
CURT is excited to have Vestas as a member as the company continues to harness the power of wind as the world moves further into the 21st Century.
CURT’S MISSION IS TO CREATE A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE FOR CONSTRUCTION USERS. CURT ACCOMPLISHES THIS MULTIFACETED OBJECTIVE BY PROVIDING AGGRESSIVE LEADERSHIP ON THOSE BUSINESS ISSUES THAT PROMOTE EXCELLENCE IN THE CREATION OF CAPITAL ASSETS.