Overview of German Wind Industry Roots - Wind Power for the World: The Rise of Modern Wind Energy - page 417

the Hütter system. Despite, after more than two decades, still
thousands of these blades are running successfully all around the
world.

18.2.1.4 Early foreign influence from Denmark

By 2012, Germany is a global major player concerning wind
turbine know-how and technology, and points the way for future
developments. Thirty years ago the situation was totally diferent.
Neighbouring countries like Denmark or the Netherlands, were
far more advanced and, hence, their influence on German wind
energy activities was just a matter of time. Especially the Danish
played quite a role. Since 1981, Danish blade manufacturers like
Økær, later licensed to Alternegy, delivered their blades to several
self-builders or small companies in Germany. A famous example
was Aloys Wobben, founder of Enercon, who in 1981 bought a set
of three Danish Økær blades (5 m length) for his 15 kW homemade
turbine. When Enercon produced first 55 kW machines (type:
Enercon-15) between 1985 and 1986, Danish Alternegy blades
of 7.5 m length were chosen. By 2012, these first Enercon
turbines are still running in northern Germany.
Another example of early Danish influence was the cooperation
between German Windkraftzentrale (WKZ) and Danish S. J.
Windpower, who serially produced wind roses for heating purpose.
WKZ sold these wind roses under the name “Elektromat 12 kW”.
Since 1985, WKZ used Alternegy blades for its Elektromat 20/25 kW
and 90 kW model.
Another highly famous example of early Danish wind turbines
in Germany is the Vestas V15-55 located at Cecilienkoog, northern
Germany. The Danish 55 kW turbine was set up in 1982 by the
farmer Karl Hansen and has since become a very strong symbol
for early pioneers in Germany. A further case were three Danish
18.5 kW Kuriant turbines that were placed at Grohnwoldhusen,
northern Germany. They represented one of the first wind farms in
Germany. These early applications were followed by dozens of
Danish units since 1985 and thousands to be erected in the 1990s
and beyond.