Jan Gasche began working with REpower Systems AG in 2007. In 2008–09 he led the company’s strategic expansion activities in China. At the beginning of 2010 he took over responsibilities as Managing Director of REpower Australia.

Prior to his involvement in wind energy, Mr Gasche worked in marketing and sales roles in the semiconductor and lighting industries. He holds a degree in business administration and an International Diploma in Energy Business Management.

1. Where does your interest in clean energy stem from?

When I began working in the semiconductor and lighting industries I became interested in sustainable solutions for electricity generation. Without electricity neither semiconductors nor light bulbs will work – electricity is the fuel that keeps the modern world running. I believe that the production of renewable electricity from sustainable sources will be one of the major challenges for all countries. Working for a pure renewable energy company gives me the chance to both work in a professionally interesting area and do something good.

2. What top two steps does the industry need to take to be cost competitive with traditional energy generation? How can they be achieved?

First of all, wind power is already amongst the most cost competitive renewable energy sources. The wind industry needs to take advantage of economies-of-scale to reduce costs. For that to happen in Australia, we need sustainable framework conditions to enable the industry to develop larger-scale organisations, supply chains and so on. This will help to further decrease the costs. Secondly, on a global level, economies-of-scale will further improve the cost competitiveness of wind power.

3. What has been the greatest achievement of your sector in the past 5 years?

The wind industry has been able to demonstrate that wind power is a sustainable solution for worldwide renewable energy with clear potential for large-scale integration.

4. Where do you see the wind sector going in the short and long term?

I believe we will see some challenging months in the short term but a continued growth scenario in mid to long-term. The more developed world, as well as the upcoming major nations like China, will need sustainable wind power capacities to solve their growing electricity need on the one hand, and the CO2 challenge on the other.

5. What are the top two government incentives/policy measures you would like to see implemented today? Why?

Firstly, the large-scale renewable industry in Australia urgently needs the Renewable Energy Target amendments to be passed to give mid- to long-term planning security for our customers. Secondly, government needs to support the development of electrical transmission infrastructure to allow the development of the sites with the best renewable energy resource.

6. What promising project/technology is REpower currently developing or implementing?

Our 3.4 megawatt (MW) turbine with 104 metre (m) rotor diameter, as well as our 3.2 MW turbine with 114 m rotor diameter, will enable outstanding energy yields, which will further improve project performance. I am convinced that this 3.XM series and these two 3 MW class turbines will become the reference in Australia.

7. What one piece of advice would you give new entrants to the clean energy industry?

As I spent a huge portion of my time in China during 2008–09, my main advice is to concentrate on quality assurance instead of pure growth. REpower’s insistence that the same quality standards are met in all our factories has meant that our Chinese-produced turbines achieve the same high availabilities as the rest of our fleet.

“Government needs to support the development of electrical transmission infrastructure to allow the development of the sites with the best renewable energy resource.”