04/08/2004
GE sees significant Growth in Wind Activities
Salzbergen, Germany - GE Energy's activities in the
global wind industry produced more than $1.2 billion in revenues for
2003, a 150% increase above the previous year's total, the company
reported at Global Windpower 2004.
"The growth of this business within the GE Energy portfolio is a clear
indication of the tremendous interest in wind power, which has become
the world's fastest growing energy source," said Steve Zwolinski, CEO of GE Energy's wind operations. "With its continuing technology
advancements, wind-generated electricity is becoming competitive with
other energy options 226 a key factor in positioning wind power as an
increasingly important source of clean energy for the 21st century."
In the U.S., GE Energy's wind turbine installations for 2003 totalled
873 megawatts of new wind-generated capacity, enough to serve the annual electricity needs of more than 270,000 average households. These orders alone represent more than 110% more capacity than reported by the American Wind Energy Association to have been installed in total throughout the U.S. during 2002, and represents over half of the capacity installed in the U.S. during 2003.
In Europe and Asia, GE Energy's 2003 installations totalled 630
megawatts of new, wind-generated capacity.
Underscoring the growth of the wind energy industry and GEs commitment
to renewables, during its first 22 months in wind energy, the company
has more than doubled its wind engineering workforce, quadrupled its R&D engineering support to the wind segment, and initiated over 100 new wind energy technology projects. GE also dedicated an existing GE facility in Florida to wind turbine blade manufacturing and announced the 2004 opening of a new Global Research Center in Europe with an added focus on renewables.
"We view wind as a natural evolution of our global family of technology and service offerings and a solution that many of our traditional customers will require in the decades ahead," said Zwolinski. "Synergies from several GE businesses, in areas such as advanced materials, transportation gearing applications and power controls, are being applied to our wind turbine technology. Our Six Sigma quality procedures are driving further improvements in wind turbine generators."
Among the recent wind technology advancements from GE was the launch of its 3.6-megawatt wind turbine - the world's first wind turbine over three megawatts designed specifically for offshore applications.
Following the erection of a prototype unit in Spain, the first seven
3.6-megawatt machines were installed off the coast of Ireland by GE as a demonstration platform to provide new technology surety for its
customers.
GE's 3.6-megawatt machine also has been selected as the technology of
choice for several other proposed projects, including Cape Wind in Massachusetts which, if built, will become America's first, and the world's largest, offshore wind facility.
GE also unveiled its 2.x series of wind turbines in 2003. Among the
world's most versatile wind products, the 2.x machines provide three
different power classes (2.3, 2.5 and 2.7 megawatts) for optimal
generation at a wide variety of wind conditions.
A recent advancement in power electronics, GE's "Low Voltage
Ride-Through" (LVRT) capability is designed to meet new customer needs
and enables wind energy, for the first time, to meet transmission
standards similar to those demanded of thermal generators. Introduced
in 2003, LVRT capability is now being built into all of GE's new wind
turbines.
With wind turbine design, manufacturing and/or assembly facilities
located in Germany, Spain and the United States, GE Energy's current
product portfolio includes wind turbines with rated outputs ranging from 1,500 to 3,600 kilowatts, and support services ranging from project development assistance to operation and maintenance. The company's knowledge base includes the development and/or installation of more than 6,600 wind turbines with a total capacity exceeding 4,700 megawatts.
global wind industry produced more than $1.2 billion in revenues for
2003, a 150% increase above the previous year's total, the company
reported at Global Windpower 2004.
"The growth of this business within the GE Energy portfolio is a clear
indication of the tremendous interest in wind power, which has become
the world's fastest growing energy source," said Steve Zwolinski, CEO of GE Energy's wind operations. "With its continuing technology
advancements, wind-generated electricity is becoming competitive with
other energy options 226 a key factor in positioning wind power as an
increasingly important source of clean energy for the 21st century."
In the U.S., GE Energy's wind turbine installations for 2003 totalled
873 megawatts of new wind-generated capacity, enough to serve the annual electricity needs of more than 270,000 average households. These orders alone represent more than 110% more capacity than reported by the American Wind Energy Association to have been installed in total throughout the U.S. during 2002, and represents over half of the capacity installed in the U.S. during 2003.
In Europe and Asia, GE Energy's 2003 installations totalled 630
megawatts of new, wind-generated capacity.
Underscoring the growth of the wind energy industry and GEs commitment
to renewables, during its first 22 months in wind energy, the company
has more than doubled its wind engineering workforce, quadrupled its R&D engineering support to the wind segment, and initiated over 100 new wind energy technology projects. GE also dedicated an existing GE facility in Florida to wind turbine blade manufacturing and announced the 2004 opening of a new Global Research Center in Europe with an added focus on renewables.
"We view wind as a natural evolution of our global family of technology and service offerings and a solution that many of our traditional customers will require in the decades ahead," said Zwolinski. "Synergies from several GE businesses, in areas such as advanced materials, transportation gearing applications and power controls, are being applied to our wind turbine technology. Our Six Sigma quality procedures are driving further improvements in wind turbine generators."
Among the recent wind technology advancements from GE was the launch of its 3.6-megawatt wind turbine - the world's first wind turbine over three megawatts designed specifically for offshore applications.
Following the erection of a prototype unit in Spain, the first seven
3.6-megawatt machines were installed off the coast of Ireland by GE as a demonstration platform to provide new technology surety for its
customers.
GE's 3.6-megawatt machine also has been selected as the technology of
choice for several other proposed projects, including Cape Wind in Massachusetts which, if built, will become America's first, and the world's largest, offshore wind facility.
GE also unveiled its 2.x series of wind turbines in 2003. Among the
world's most versatile wind products, the 2.x machines provide three
different power classes (2.3, 2.5 and 2.7 megawatts) for optimal
generation at a wide variety of wind conditions.
A recent advancement in power electronics, GE's "Low Voltage
Ride-Through" (LVRT) capability is designed to meet new customer needs
and enables wind energy, for the first time, to meet transmission
standards similar to those demanded of thermal generators. Introduced
in 2003, LVRT capability is now being built into all of GE's new wind
turbines.
With wind turbine design, manufacturing and/or assembly facilities
located in Germany, Spain and the United States, GE Energy's current
product portfolio includes wind turbines with rated outputs ranging from 1,500 to 3,600 kilowatts, and support services ranging from project development assistance to operation and maintenance. The company's knowledge base includes the development and/or installation of more than 6,600 wind turbines with a total capacity exceeding 4,700 megawatts.
- Source:
- online editorial
- Author:
- online editorial
- Email:
- press@windfair.net
- Keywords:
- ge wind
