Nordex Group, one of the largest wind turbine manufacturers in the world, is celebrating its 40th anniversary. The company’s portfolio in Croatia, Serbia and Montenegro recently reached a total of 1 GW in installed capacity and projects under development, underscoring Nordex’s strong commitment to supporting Southeastern Europe’s energy transition goals.
Nordex will participate in the leading regional conference, the Belgrade Energy Forum, and take this opportunity to mark this milestone. At the event, Anne-Catherine de Tourtier, Vice-President Mediterranean, will contribute to discussions as a panelist, and the company will host an anniversary celebration.
It was back in the early eighties, in Denmark, that Flemming Pedersen and his two sons, Carsten and Jens, had a vision: develop innovative products that could generate electricity in a cost-effective way while protecting environment. To put this idea into practice, they devised a wind turbine which they first sketched on a wall.
They built the first 65 kW turbine, installed on the family property and made it work.
This was the starting signal ; in 1985, Carsten and Jens Pedersen founded Nordex A/S in Give, laying the foundations for Nordex as a company.
The founders had a vision to generate cost-effective power with no impact on the environment
A lot has changed in 40 years. Nordex Group has become one of the world’s leading Western manufacturers of wind turbines, successful around the globe and the market leader in Europe. Technology and the industry have been developed at an impressive pace.
Electricity from wind power has become cost competitive. A strong focus on innovation and cost of energy (COE) has significantly reduced the cost per kilowatt-hour, turning wind into the cheapest source of electricity in many regions.
A crucial role in protecting the planet from climate change
One thing has not changed in the four decades of the Nordex story: Developing and delivering clean power plants that make 100% renewable energy a reality for the world, is still the shared mission and driver of today’s more than 10,900 Nordex Group employees, and its valued partners and clients around the globe.
The company kicked off the 40th anniversary series by thanking its customers, suppliers, colleagues and friends who have made its journey of innovation and growth possible.
“A special thank you to the Pedersen family for following a vision and believing in a technology that was once perceived by many as an utopian dream, and today recognized as playing a crucial role in protecting our planet from climate change, safeguarding it for generations to come!” said Vice-President Mediterranean Anne-Catherine de Tourtier, who will participate at Belgrade Energy Forum next month.
The first Nordex-branded wind turbine
In 1986, just one year after the company was founded, the first Nordex-branded wind turbine started to produce energy. Developed by the visionary Pedersen brothers and Nordex’s inaugural employee, Knud Buhl Nielsen, the N27 marked the beginning of a groundbreaking journey towards sustainable energy production.
The firm rented the tallest crane in Denmark to lift the first N27 turbine in 1986
Looking back on this milestone, Carsten Pedersen fondly recalls: “The first real Nordex turbine was the N27 with a rotor diameter of 27 meters, on a 30-meter tubular tower which we erected at our factory in 1986. At that time, it was one of the biggest turbines on the market and we thought that it was really big. We had to rent the tallest crane in Denmark to erect it.”
From today’s perspective, the whole development process in the early stages of Nordex seems truly adventurous. In the absence of a computer, the design was done by hand, and the loads were calculated using a pocket calculator.
However, it’s safe to say that both processes were conducted thoroughly and expertly. “The turbine actually kept running for 30 years, as we did not dismantle it until 2016,” remembers Jens Pedersen.
Three decades since the company’s first 1 MW wind turbine
Looking back, based on the first steps with the N27, it seems that “thinking big” was the beginning of the Nordex Group natural approach. A further humble milestone was accomplished today: 30 years of producing turbines of the megawatt class. In 1995, Nordex introduced the worldwide first series-produced megawatt turbine, the N52, with 1 MW.
Today, Nordex’s Delta4000 series boasts a rated power more than 45 times that of the N27, showcasing the remarkable advancements in technology and engineering expertise. Over the past 40 years, the rotor diameter has increased 6.5-fold, reaching an impressive 175 meters, with its swept area increasing accordingly by a factor of 42. Today, Nordex wind turbines are manufactured with capacities ranging from 4 MW to 7 MW.
Anniversary celebration at BEF 2025 is affirming Nordex’s commitment to the Balkans
The global company is marking its 40th anniversary at the upcoming Belgrade Energy Forum, affirming its commitment to the Balkans.
Vice-President Mediterranean Anne-Catherine de Tourtier is one of the speakers in the panel discussion ‘Energy revolution underway – uniting efforts to deliver green, intelligent and sustainable energy solutions’.
Organized by Balkan Green Energy News, BEF 2025 will be held on May 14 and 15 in Serbia’s capital city.
Belgrade Energy Forum is a central meeting point for representatives of regional and international institutions, organizations and the business community from the region, Europe, and beyond.
Make sure you register on time via this link.
In the evening on May 14, Nordex is organizing its anniversary celebration party for all the participants at the conference.
The group is actively focusing on the Balkan market, with a robust presence across the region, currently involved in six projects in Croatia, three in Serbia, and one in Montenegro.
“We have successfully contracted 1 GW in Serbia, Croatia, and Montenegro, encompassing 222 wind turbines across 16 wind farms. Our team in the Balkans region has grown to over 30 employees, reflecting our significant investment in local talent and development,” said Managing Director for Serbia Vladimir Kolarević.
Nordex highlighted the Balkans as one of its key growth areas, with several ongoing projects in other countries within the region as well. As a crucial partner in the energy transition, the wind turbine manufacturer leverages its footprint and network in Croatia, Serbia, and Montenegro to enter new markets and drive sustainable development, according to the update.
The company is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange, and has installed so far 57 GW of wind power capacity in over 40 markets.
In Turkey, one of its manufacturing hubs, Nordex received orders for more than 1 GW in 2024. And then 750 MW was booked in the country just in the first quarter of this year.
As for the other markets tracked by Balkan Green Energy News, a notable example is Greece, where Nordex surpassed 1 GW.
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