Winston Shaw: The industry can rely less on subsidies
“With standardization, the industry can rely less on subsidies”
General Manager at Danhydra Inc. Winston Shaw is leading the charge for smart tool solutions in the US market. He believes standardization is one of the answers to making the wind industry less reliant on subsidies and to even out some of the market volatility.
“I have been at the frontlines of the wind industry for 15 years, leading the charge in the US and watching the industry mature year after year. We’re still at the early stages in the US and there seems to be a bit of disconnect in terms of what needs to be done. Politically, it’s driven by the green transition but we need to be equally driven by the economic side for the transition to actually become real.
It’s our job to help customers be where they need to be in order to help achieve sustainability from both a green and a commercial perspective. Working with tool solutions, it’s really important to me that we always consider how we can add real value for our customers. We have to analyze how we can bring down costs and complexity across the lifecycle of a tool – every chance we get. Essentially, our job is to help lower overall service costs and enable smarter solutions.
What we can do is create real standardization by drawing on the knowledge and skills of our entire organization. With standardization, the industry can rely less on subsidies and I believe this will help ensure the long-term success of the wind industry. If you use standardized tools that require the same competencies, then everyone lowers their costs. It becomes easier to train people, you raise safety significantly, and you make it easier to produce and procure specific tools.
For me, being part of the green transition means to build excitement around the wind industry. Looking at carbon energy, volatility has been very high. It’s very much driven by people making fantastic money and then all of the sudden, they have no jobs. Wind offers consistency and as people begin to see that, the industry is becoming more attractive.
“We need to move fast though,
and we need to continue
challenging the industry.”
A platform for impact
Danhydra has given me a platform to build great teams and impact people, the community, and the industry. That matters a lot to me. I have worked for Danish owned companies for 15 years, and I think we can really learn something from their approach to work life balance. Combine that with a challenger mindset, and I think we’re really on to something.
We need to move fast though, and we need to continue challenging the industry. The way I see it, you have to rock the boat when the boat needs rocking. We’re at a point with the global energy crisis where every moment matters. The sooner we act, the better the impact – even if we’re just small cog in a much bigger wheel house.
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360o Willpower
Danhydra is an international supplier of tools and tool services.
Trusted by the best in the wind industry.
With a clear focus on innovation, professionalism and competitiveness, Danhydra develops, produces and services tools for the global wind industry. With more than 25 years of experience in the industry and from a strong base with locations in Denmark, Germany, Spain, India, Australia and the USA, Danhydra has implemented a new ambitions growth strategy aiming to create a unique, global and customer-oriented company. Our company currently employs approx. 130 professional, experienced and dedicated employees who all contribute to ensure high services for our customers.
With some of the most experienced technicians, engineers, and manufacturers on board, we are not too humble to say that we are good at what we do. We take pride in being exactly like no one else in the industry. We are easy going but highly professional. Our work environment is characterized by an informal approach – but our ambitions reach as high as the sky.
And we believe that it takes power to empower. Therefore, our 360o willpower culture lies within our DNA. So, when you take place with Danhydra, you take place where change happens.