Thailand - GE wind turbines selected for Thai wind energy development

German wind energy developer Pro Ventum International is teaming up with GE to build a 90-megawatt wind farm about 250 kilometers northeast of Bangkok.

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed today for GE to supply 36 2.5-megawatt wind turbines to the Thep Sathit Wind Farm in the Chaiyaphum province of Thailand. At the same time, GE also is looking into a potential equity investment in the wind energy project. It will be the first wind power project in Thailand for both Pro Ventum and GE and when operational, could potentially be one of the first wind farms of this scale in Thailand and the greater ASEAN region.

The MOU was signed during a ceremony witnessed by Dr. Wannarat Charnnukul, minister of energy for Thailand, who said: “This wind power project will support the Thai government’s policy to promote cleaner energy, which calls for the country to use renewable resources for 20 percent of its power generation by the year 2020.”

“This is an important milestone for our company, and signals our commitment to invest in Thailand’s clean energy future,” said Mr. Reiner Zoller, CEO of Pro Ventum. “We’re delighted to work with GE, one of the world leaders in wind turbine technology, to help Thailand move toward its renewable energy goals.”

Supportive government policy will encourage more investments in the renewable energy industry. “Thailand’s multi-year incentives have made wind energy development a competitive proposition for potential investors. This MOU is testimony to how long-term policies that match the life cycle of an investment, are driving the growth of renewable power generation,” said Kovit Kantapasara, GE Energy’s country executive for Thailand and Indochina. “Renewable energy is important to Thailand as the country diversifies its power generation portfolio and reduces its dependence on imported fossil fuel.”

GE is one of the world's leading wind turbine suppliers with over 14,000 wind turbine installations worldwide comprising more than 218 million operating hours and 127,000 GWh of energy produced.

The 2.5-megawatt wind turbine is the largest GE wind turbine available for onshore applications and is the most advanced wind turbine commercially available today in terms of efficiency, reliability and grid-connection capabilities.

GE is a diversified infrastructure, finance and media company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. From aircraft engines and power generation to financial services, health care solutions and television programming, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide.

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