WPNL 202101

Transport & Installation
Sabine Lankhorst
Interview with Wim Robbertsen, Business in Wind
Solutions for complex
logistical challenges
In the Netherlands, old wind turbines are currently being removed at a fast pace,
mostly to make way for clustered, new generation wind turbines with more
power. The Dutch company Business in Wind has specialized in this, particularly
in very challenging projects.
Windpowernl spoke with Wim Robbertsen,
Managing Director at Business in Wind since
2018. Robbertsen’s career started in earthworks
and hydraulic engineering but in 2004 he was
asked by the founders of Windbrokers, one of the first companies
to trade in used wind turbines, to join them as project manager.
That’s how he entered the wind industry. Through Windbrokers he
ended up at the Indian company Global Wind Power who had just
bought a license from Dutch wind turbine developer Lagerwey to
start selling wind turbines worldwide. After one and a half years
Robbertsen ended up at turbine manufacturer EWT where he set
up the project and service department.
Meanwhile, Robbertsen continued to maintain a good relationship
with Lagerwey. When Lagerwey itself became a manufacturer, he
was asked in 2013 to set up the service and project department
there as well. As Project and Service Director he was responsible
for project realization and maintenance. One and a half years after
Enercon took over, he left.
Business in Wind
At that time, the founders of Business in Wind, Peter den
Braber and Johan Top, who traded in used wind turbines
alongside their own businesses, saw that the, at that time still
small, repowering market would grow in the Netherlands and
decided to invest. Robbertsen already knew Den Braber and
wind turbines here, all of which were given new uses. After this
project, the company gained momentum. Robbertsen: “ENGIE
wanted to promote its circular strategy at this project and
therefore invited a lot of press. This provided us a very nice
platform to promote Business in Wind.”
So far, Business in Wind has dismantled about 70 wind
turbines. For this year, Robbertsen expects a total of about 80
wind turbines. At the moment Business in Wind disassembles
mainly in the Netherlands, Germany and Belgium. The English
and French markets are a little behind but are now coming up.
Business in Wind, however, does not only work on the removal
and trading of old wind turbines, Robbertsen emphasizes. “Our
focus is to do the complete scope; from the removal of the wind
turbines to the complete re-commissioning elsewhere in the
world. For example, we are now working on a number of
projects where we are doing everything for the new owners:
building the roads, foundations, electrical infrastructure and
performing the installation. We then hand over the turbines to a
maintenance partner who will guaranteed carry out
maintenance for fifteen years.”
Rather the best than the largest
Business in Wind currently has a permanent core of five people
and a group of thirty persons around it. However, the company
‘What you see happening now is that the blades
are crossing fifteen meters and so far there is
a policy of tolerance for this’
Top since 2005 and with his extensive network in the wind
sector and international experience he was a good addition.
The first serious project was at Hoogstraten in Belgium for
ENGIE in 2019. Business in Wind dismantled six Vestas V80
has no desire to go large-scale. Robbertsen: “The strategy of
Business in Wind is to pioneer and lead the way. We would
rather be the best than the largest. We want to have a core of
knowledge in house and work with partners who form a good,
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