** German Wind Turbine Supplier Expands India Operations Amid Geopolitical Uncertainty

** German-based wind turbine supplier Flender has expanded its manufacturing presence in India to cater to the growing demand from domestic markets and mitigate the risks associated with geopolitical tensions. The company, which produces gearboxes, generators, and components, has increased its output capacity from 800 megawatts to over 16 gigawatts to meet the needs of original equipment makers (OEMs) in India and export to countries like the US, Australia, and Europe. Andreas Evertz, group CEO of Flender, stated that the company has invested over €100 million in India over the past four years and continues to invest in component manufacturing and building a local ecosystem. When asked about the impact of geopolitical tensions on the supply chain, Evertz emphasized that Flender has a diversified supply chain spread across three hubs in Germany, China, and India. The company is focusing on finding the cheapest and best sources for its components, with the potential to use capacity from other locations in times of disruption. To improve resilience, Flender is expanding its testing capacity in India and making parts close to the assembly line. The company is also bullish about domestic adoption, as demand continues to rise. Flender’s Indian operations have seen significant growth, with over 50% of its output geared towards exports. The company has added a state-of-the-art test rig in Chennai, which is touted as the country’s largest gearbox testing rig, primarily focused on large offshore turbines for export markets. This will help shorten the development times for new gearboxes for the local market. Flender has assembly and testing facilities in Chennai and Walaja, close to global and domestic OEM facilities, as well as a parts facility at Kharagpur. The company’s expansion in India is expected to create more job opportunities and contribute to the growth of the country’s renewable energy sector.