The “Wind-X” project by VDMA Power Systems and several project partners has started.
Establishment of a decentralized cloud edge data space for the development of new digital business models
Increasing competitiveness through greater efficiency and flexibility in production
Funding via IPCEI-CIS and synergies with Manufacturing-X projects
The “Wind-X” project by VDMA Power Systems and several project partners has started. The aim of the project is to develop an industrial data space for the wind industry in order to enable new digital business models for the use of plant data. Wind-X thus represents a use case of the cloud edge infrastructure. It is funded by the central digital policy project of the EU member states, IPCEI-CIS. The project, which is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, has a volume of 6 million euros and a duration of 33 months. In total, more than 20 companies from the wind value chain are involved in the project – including manufacturers, suppliers and operators. The consortium leader is the wind turbine manufacturer ENERCON (WRD Wobben Research and Development GmbH).
“The Wind-X project is unique and groundbreaking for the wind industry. We are delighted that VDMA Power Systems, as the initiator of the project, has been entrusted with stakeholder management as well as the development and provision of transfer formats and methods. With the development of a decentralized, cost-effective and efficient data space, companies along the wind value chain will be able to exchange information without losing control or authorship. They can use this for new business models in specific use cases,” says Dr. Dennis Rendschmidt, Managing Director of VDMA Power Systems.
Increasing competitiveness through Wind-X
With a data ecosystem for innovative and sustainable wind turbines, Wind-X contributes to improving the competitiveness of the industry and increasing efficiency and flexibility in production over the entire life cycle. In addition, the project supports the strengthening of resilience by promoting transparent and adaptable processes. It aims to establish digital interoperability and sovereignty in the wind industry.
Changed regulatory environment for data usage rights
The background to the project is the changed regulatory environment for data usage rights: the new provisions of the EU Data Act will come into force from September 2025. They mean that operating data and information from products that have a chip or sensor will no longer belong to the manufacturer, but to the user. This will prevent data monopolies and allow new business models to be developed. The focus of data usage rights is clearly shifting in favor of customers as users. This new environment requires the sharing of data and, building on this, the development of new business models for mechanical and plant engineering. A demonstrator is to be developed for this in the Wind-X project.
Experience from other initiatives and Manufacturing-X projects will be incorporated
The Wind-X project transfers findings, technologies and solutions from Manufacturing-X, Catena-X, Gaia-X and IPCEI-CIS to the wind industry. The changed regulatory framework has an enormous impact on mechanical engineering, vehicle construction, plant engineering and the industry in general. The VDMA is already a leading partner in other Manufacturing-X projects, so that valuable experience can be used for the Wind-X project.
Consortium partners:
- ENERCON (WRD Wobben Research and Development GmbH)
- Hahn Projects GmbH
- Mews Deutschland GmbH
-SWMS Consulting GmbH - BIBA – Bremser Institut für Produktion und Logistik GmbH
- Rheinische-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen
- VDMA e.V. Power Systems
Various associated partners are also working on the project.
About the cloud-edge continuum:
The cloud-edge continuum describes the seamless integration of edge and cloud computing. The coupled use of both systems should enable optimal data processing and storage in multiple, distributed networks. Depending on requirements, data and applications are made available at nearby edge locations (close to the end device) or in the cloud. Edge computing involves the on-demand, service-oriented provision and use of distributed systems for processing data outside a cloud and close to where it is needed. Cloud computing involves the use of IT infrastructures or services that are not available locally on the end device, but are provided as a temporary service and accessed via a network (e.g. the internet).
About 8ra/IPCEI Cloud:
8ra is the central digital initiative for Europe. At the heart of the initiative is the IPCEI Cloud, which is driven by more than 100 companies and research institutions from 12 EU Member States to build the world’s first “multi-provider cloud edge continuum”. The main goal is to create a completely new decentralized software infrastructure for the advanced use of computing resources from the cloud to the edge. This novel open ecosystem, operated by multiple providers, will reduce both technological dependencies and lock-in effects. In addition, it will enable novel and innovative data-driven business models, e.g. related to Artificial Intelligence and IIoT (Industrial-Internet-of-Things), for a wide range of applications in industries such as manufacturing, mobility, energy and tourism. The initiative will implement projects with a volume of several billion euros.
(Further information can be found at www.8ra.com.)
About Manufacturing-X:
Industry 4.0 requires easily available, secure and consistent data networking. Manufacturing-X is designed to make this possible. The aim is to establish a federated data ecosystem that enables the trustworthy exchange of data based on open standards in a data space between companies and offers companies digital sovereignty. The German government is supporting Manufacturing-X with a current call for proposals from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection and is continuing the successful path of Industry 4.0. Manufacturing-X aims to make even better use of the added value of digital technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning in order to develop new business models and increase the competitiveness of industry.
The establishment of Manufacturing-X is intended to create an alternative to central platform solutions. This should help companies of all sizes to develop their digital value-added services.