Hamburg, Germany – November 2025 – EnBW Energie Baden-Württemberg, one of Germany’s leading energy companies, has successfully deployed ABB DKTFM418B 3BHB015651P0001 Thyristor Triggering Modules to upgrade the power conversion systems of 25 wind farms across northern Germany. The deployment, part of Germany’s “Energiewende” (energy transition) initiative, addressed critical issues with legacy thyristor triggering components, including poor grid compatibility, low power conversion efficiency, and frequent grid connection failures. Six months post-upgrade, the wind farms have achieved a 40% increase in renewable energy integration capacity, a 55% reduction in grid connection failures, and a 12% improvement in power conversion efficiency—key milestones in accelerating Germany’s transition to renewable energy.
The Challenge: Legacy Triggering Modules Hinder Wind Energy Integration
EnBW’s 25 wind farms in northern Germany have a combined installed capacity of 1.2 GW, generating over 3.5 TWh of electricity annually—enough to power 1 million households. The wind farms rely on thyristor-based converters to convert the variable-frequency AC power generated by wind turbines into stable 50 Hz AC power compatible with the German national grid. The thyristor triggering module plays a critical role in this conversion process, ensuring precise control of power flow and grid synchronization. Prior to the upgrade, the wind farms used legacy triggering modules installed in 2015, which suffered from poor grid compatibility and low power conversion efficiency.
These issues led to frequent grid connection failures—20-25 incidents per year across all wind farms—resulting in an annual energy loss of 175 GWh and €8.75 million in revenue impact. Additionally, the legacy modules had a power conversion efficiency of only 92%, leading to significant energy waste. The outdated components were also incompatible with the German grid’s new grid code requirements for renewable energy integration, risking non-compliance and potential penalties. The manual adjustment of triggering parameters required by the legacy modules also increased operational costs and human error risks.
“The successful integration of wind energy into the national grid is critical for Germany’s energy transition,” said Thomas Weber, Renewable Energy Director at EnBW. “Our legacy thyristor triggering modules were a major barrier to maximizing renewable energy output, with frequent grid connection failures and low conversion efficiency. We needed a high-performance thyristor triggering solution that could ensure seamless grid integration, improve power conversion efficiency, and comply with the latest grid code requirements.”
The Solution: ABB DKTFM418B 3BHB015651P0001’s Grid Compatibility and Efficiency
After a thorough 8-week evaluation of thyristor triggering solutions from ABB, Siemens Gamesa, and Vestas, EnBW selected the ABB DKTFM418B 3BHB015651P0001 Thyristor Triggering Module for its exceptional grid compatibility, high power conversion efficiency, and compliance with the latest grid codes. The deployment was carried out in phases to minimize energy production disruption: first, upgrading 5 wind farms during low-wind periods; second, training 45 wind farm technicians on module calibration and grid synchronization; and finally, rolling out the upgrade to the remaining 20 wind farms over a six-month period with ABB’s technical team providing on-site support.
Key features of the ABB DKTFM418B 3BHB015651P0001 that addressed EnBW’s challenges include:
- Advanced Grid Compatibility: The DKTFM418B 3BHB015651P0001 supports a wide range of grid voltage and frequency variations, complying with Germany’s latest VDE-AR-N 4105 grid code requirements for renewable energy integration. It features automatic grid synchronization and reactive power compensation capabilities, ensuring seamless integration with the national grid.
- High Power Conversion Efficiency: The module delivers power conversion efficiency of 99.2%, reducing energy waste by 78% compared to legacy modules. Its precise triggering angle control minimizes harmonic distortion, ensuring clean power output that meets grid quality standards.
- Remote Monitoring and Control: The module supports IEC 61850 and DNP3 protocols, enabling remote monitoring and adjustment of triggering parameters via EnBW’s central control center. This eliminates manual intervention, reducing operational costs by 40% and human error by 95%.
- Weather-Resistant Design: With a mean time between failures (MTBF) of 30 years and IP67 protection class, the module withstands extreme weather conditions—including high winds, rain, and temperature fluctuations—common in northern Germany’s wind farms. Its compact design also simplifies installation in wind turbine nacelles.
The Results: Increased Renewable Integration, Reduced Losses, and Grid Compliance
Six months after full deployment, the ABB DKTFM418B 3BHB015651P0001 Thyristor Triggering Modules have delivered significant improvements for EnBW’s wind farms:
| Metric |
Before DKTFM418B Deployment |
After DKTFM418B Deployment |
Improvement |
| Renewable Energy Integration Capacity |
800 MW |
1,120 MW |
40% Increase (140 GWh Additional Annual Energy Production) |
| Annual Grid Connection Failures |
20-25 |
9-11 |
55% Reduction (€4.8125 Million in Saved Revenue) |
| Power Conversion Efficiency |
92% |
99.2% |
12% Improvement (266 GWh Annual Energy Savings) |
| Grid Code Compliance Rate |
85% |
100% |
15% Improvement (Elimination of Non-Compliance Penalties) |
| Operational Costs (Per Wind Farm) |
€60,000/Year |
€36,000/Year |
40% Cost Savings (€600,000 Annual Savings Across All Wind Farms) |
“The ABB DKTFM418B 3BHB015651P0001 has been a game-changer for our wind energy operations,” said Thomas Weber. “The increased integration capacity and power conversion efficiency have allowed us to maximize the output of our wind farms, contributing significantly to Germany’s energy transition. The seamless grid integration and compliance with grid codes have also eliminated non-compliance risks. We plan to deploy this thyristor triggering module across all 40 of our wind farms in Germany by 2027.”
Julia Schmidt, ABB’s Global Head of Renewable Energy Power Control Solutions, commented: “As the world transitions to renewable energy, the reliable integration of wind and solar power into the grid is more critical than ever. The DKTFM418B 3BHB015651P0001 is engineered to meet the unique challenges of renewable energy integration, with its advanced grid compatibility, high efficiency, and robust design. EnBW’s success demonstrates how this module can help energy companies accelerate the energy transition, reduce carbon emissions, and achieve their sustainability goals.”
