From 1987-1998

Vestas focuses solely on wind energy and its turbines are soon in demand around the world. With ever-improving technology, the company reaches many milestones, including the first turbines to supply a constant current of electricity to the energy grid.

1987 Making wind energy a specialty

After the crisis in 1986, the company decides to focus exclusively on its goal of making wind energy a viable solution to meet the world’s energy demands. Much of the group is sold, and a new company, Vestas Wind Systems A/S, is born.

Johannes Poulsen becomes Managing Director of the company, now 60-strong. A few months later, Vestas is chosen for six wind energy projects in India sponsored by Danida, a Danish state-financed aid agency.

1990 Weight reduction and giant orders

With a new blade design that weighs just 1,100 kg (down from 3,800 kg) Vestas turbines are beginning to stand out as a formidable technical achievement. Orders from investors keen to secure a quick return on their investment include a record order from the US: 342 wind turbines for the Sky River wind farm in California.

1991 Expanding around the world

Vestas sells its 1,000th turbine. The company is buoyant. Wind farms are growing in size and more countries are beginning to look seriously at wind energy.

Vestas turbines are now supplying clean energy around the world, from Great Britain to India to New Zealand.

Vestas’ goal to be the largest modern energy company in the world looks like it will become a reality.

1994 The technology to supply consistent energy

Competition in the industry increases, but Vestas’ engineers rise to the challenge with new turbine innovations that once more place Vestas firmly at the forefront. The V44 can produce 600 KW of electricity and uses OptiTip® to minimise stress on the turbine blades.

But the real breakthrough is OptiSlip®, which ensures the V44 supplies the grid with an even electrical output - the first time wind power is able to achieve this.

1995 Going offshore

Vestas constructs the offshore wind turbine farm “Tunoe Knob” in Denmark. One of the first offshore wind farms ever built, it has significant potential: moving off shore increases energy production by 15 percent. Although water is new ground for the “farmers” from Vestas, they still manage to install 10 turbines in just five days. With 20 metre-long blades, each turbine can produce 500 kW of electricity.

1997 The world’s best wind turbines

The technology behind Vestas’ wind energy is developing faster than ever before- keeping the company at the forefront. The V66 turbine is the world’s largest commercial wind turbine to date.

Its capacity of 1.65 MW is 55 times greater than the first wind turbine produced by Vestas in 1979. With its 32-metre long blades, it produces enough electricity to supply approximately 1,000 households.

At this time, Vestas supplies turbines to 15 different countries. The company still has to increase turbine efficiency to achieve its ultimate goal: to compete on an equal footing with traditional energy sources.

1998 Stock exchange listing

Vestas goes public. Shares are launched on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange - and the capital is used to boost growth. With a share of 22.1 percent of the world’s wind power (measured in installed MW) Vestas is the industry’s dominant player.