Nordex taps TPI for wind blades

Nordex uses the NR-58.5 in its successful N117/2400 turbine and will also be fitting it to the N117/3000 in the future. “With this tri-supplier strategy we will be able to boost our capacity for the N117 turbine substantially in the future, ensuring even more reliable deliveries for our customers,” explains Nordex CEO Jürgen Zeschky.

TPI will manufacture the NR-58.5 rotor blade at its Turkish plant in Izmir, with series production to commence as early as in February 2014 at this site. Experts from TPI Composites and Nordex rotor blade production will work together closely in setting up the production line, in order to ensure the high quality standards for which both companies are well known. Says Zeschky: “This partnership with TPI marks a major success for Nordex as we now have at our side one of the most experienced producers of composites. What is more, our partner already has a strong reputation in the wind power industry with a track record of tens of thousands of high-quality rotor blades produced.”

TPI operates the Izmir plant in a joint venture with ALKE INSAAT. With an area of around 33,000 square metres, it is ideally located for the transportation of heavy-duty components on road and by water to construction sites in Turkey as well as other countries.

The partnership with TPI in Turkey has an added advantage for Nordex, one of the market leaders in Turkey: as it will increase the proportion of local content, will be able to secure more attractive feed-in tariffs for its customers in Turkey, thus making its turbines more competitive.