USA - GE turbine focus is on land

Federal approval Wednesday of the Cape Wind offshore energy project was bittersweet for Schenectady-based GE Wind Energy. GE announced in 2003 that it had been selected by Cape Wind to supply the turbines. The long-delayed project can now move ahead, with 130 massive turbines located in the waters off Cape Cod. While the project is likely to face court challenges, federal approval was seen as the last major hurdle. But the offshore turbines won't be made by GE. Instead, Siemens Wind Power will provide the equipment, which will be produced at a plant in Iowa. When GE agreed in 2003 to supply Cape Wind, land-based wind farms were just taking off.

With the offshore project delayed and no other domestic projects in the works, GE decided instead to focus on its land-based wind turbines, and it succeeded in dominating the domestic market. But it also pulled out of the offshore market. So Cape Wind sought another supplier, and on March 31 said it had signed a contract with Siemens for the 130 turbines. Overall, the project is expected to cost nearly $2 billion. Meanwhile, GE returned to the offshore wind turbine business after acquiring Swedish wind turbine manufacturer ScanWind. GE will use its technology to produce a more advanced offshore turbine.

"We believe offshore wind has a role to play in the overall wind industry picture in the U.S.," GE spokeswoman Chris Horne said Wednesday. "While some U.S. projects are beginning to move forward, creation of a viable large-scale offshore wind market in the U.S. will depend on strong, supportive renewable energy policies and improvement of permitting processes at the state and federal levels."

Horne contrasted the domestic effort with those of Europe and China, which are moving ahead with offshore wind farms. Wind turbines are common sights off the coasts of Denmark and the Netherlands.

"The rest of the world is not standing still," Horne said. "China and Europe have already enacted robust, clean energy policies that are driving technology investments and creating real jobs. Sustainable policy works." She said Wednesday's approval of the Cape Wind project signals the potential for offshore wind energy domestically.

"With supportive policies like those in the EU, we could significantly increase the size of the U.S. wind industry both onshore and offshore," Horne said, "create jobs and move our nation toward energy independence."

For more information please contact Trevor Sievert at ts@windfair.net