On the 28th of January 2009, softEnergy arranged together with their customers an impressive event that will bring new innovative impulses in the wind branch. The customers of softEnergy that consist of many different actors from the wind industry came together in Rostock on this day to find solution methods for the daily challenges of the wind branch. It was observed that everyone has to manage similar problems - operators, owners, planning offices, service companies or even wind turbine manufacturers.

Some of these challenges were presented on this day and different solution methods were discussed. Samples of the presented topics were: "Communication problems -> Different possible solution methods" or "Problem-oriented work instead of task-oriented work -> Presentation of the new and flexible WIS 5.0 solution". But not only softEnergy presented their innovations and solutions. Stephan Jacobsen, head of the technical operation management division of Energiequelle GmbH in Bremen, presented the solution "Open Failure Analysis" which promises big potentials for all members of the wind energy branch. This world wide unique software module allows owners and operators (or others) of wind turbines to search in a central database for failure codes with high occurrences and also to check if other owners or operators with the same wind turbine type have the same problems.

A new software module allows a wind turbine manufacturer independent failure analysis and problem solving in blockage and breakdown scenarios beyond present possibilities.

From 9th till 13th September the operator of over 450 wind turbines "Energiequelle GmbH" and the software house "softEnergy GmbH" present at the exposition "Husum WindEnergy" a corporately developed failure-analyzing module for the Wind energy Information System (WIS). The worldwide unique software module "open failure analysis" allows operators and owners of wind turbines to research in a database for frequently occurring error codes from identical turbines of different owners. The users can compare results, exchange solutions with like-minded people to avoid e.g. expensive failed attempts when solving the problem.

Stephan Jacobsen is head of the technical operation management division of Energiequelle GmbH in Bremen und initiator of the module development. With many years of experience he knows the weaknesses of manufacturers that need to be compensated with the own initiative of operators. He describes the dilemma: "From the eyes of an operator you get the impression that manufacturers aren"t very interested in the maintenance business. Often, customer support is insufficient; questions and requests are being answered from slow to "not at all". In addition manufacturers declare problems as individual cases although equal or similar cases do exist. For this reason it is more important than ever for operators and owners to pull together to operate their turbines more optimal and efficient. So it stood to reason to create a base to share the knowledge and to compare the results. Here is our approach. We want to improve the day-to-day business via combined work. Thereby the software module helps to analyze the failures. softEnergy has realized this module based on our ideas and specifications that is why we own the license rights." We assume that all present and future WIS users will join this module to increase the use of the analysis with every additional wind turbine and to improve the precision of the analysis, information quality as well as offering solution exchange. "Energiequelle GmbH will employ this new tool for all managed wind turbines in day-to-day business naturally without causing additional costs for the owners." said Mr. Jacobsen concluding.

Christian Schröder, sales manager of softEnergy GmbH in Rostock explained the technical background of the system: "The WIS module "open failure analysis" analyses the frequency of occurred error codes (status codes) for a defined period in a fast and clear manner. The module can generate a top-10-list with all occurred failures on demand. Required data for this and other evaluations will be anonymously exported in agreement with all participating operators into a central database. The software module "open failure analysis" accesses this central database and enables for the first time analyses, evaluations and comparisons of unprecedented significance. Trends and irregularities are from now on detectable, especially if they are dependent on turbine type or environment factors."

Technical requirement for the use of the failure analysis module is the installation of the Wind energy Information System (WIS) at the operator. This system is distributed by the company softEnergy in Rostock. Contact person is Christian Schröder (Phone: +49 (0) 381-40 587 530, e-mail: schroeder@softenergy.de, www.softenergy.de).

Stephan Jacobsen is the contact for information about the new software module "open failure analysis" (Phone: +49 (0) 421-62 67 69-60, Email: jacobsen@energiequelle.de, www.energiequelle.de). Both companies will present their solution from 9th till 13th September at the exposition "Husum WindEnergy" on the stand of the Energiequelle GmbH (B 27) in hall 4.