Vestas establishes research centre in Houston, Texas

Vestas, the world's largest supplier of wind turbines, has chosen Houston, Texas as the location for its new research centre in the USA. The company first announced plans to establish a research centre in the USA in November 2007 and today, the location for the centre was revealed at a press conference hosted by Vestas at the WINDPOWER 2008 Conference and Exhibition in Houston.

The centre marks an important milestone in Vestas' strategy to expand its research and development activities globally to maintain its market leading position as No. 1 in Modern Energy. The Houston-based centre will further consolidate Vestas' presence in one of its main markets and will strengthen the existing R&D organisation which includes research centres in Asia and Europe.

The decision to locate the North American research centre in Houston follows a thorough placement analysis of a number of locations across the USA followed by a specific analysis of Texas carried out by Vestas Technology R&D in cooperation with the Greater Houston Partnership, the City of Houston and the State of Texas.

”Houston provides access to a highly qualified workforce in an international and extremely energy-focused research and development environment,” says Finn Strøm Madsen, President of Vestas Technology R&D. “In addition, Houston will allow Vestas to establish and strengthen relations within the North American and global energy industry. Tapping into and contributing to the tremendous pool of knowledge and know-how offered by Houston's energy environment is invaluable in our quest to develop wind turbines that also in the future can meet the technological and cost-efficiency demands of our customers.”

Texas and Houston have taken progressive steps to secure their positions as global hubs in an energy landscape that will increasingly rely on renewable sources of energy to supplement the use of fossil fuels. Today, Texas is the leading wind state in the USA, accounting for 26 per cent of the nation's total installed wind capacity or the equivalent of the electricity needed to power more than one million Texas homes.

“This partnership with Vestas is the latest step in our state's aggressive momentum towards a diversified energy portfolio,” says Rick Perry, Governor of the State of Texas. “Expanding wind energy research and development will only accelerate our state toward energy independence.”

"We're very pleased to welcome Vestas to Houston," says Bill White, Mayor of Houston. "They are the clear leader in their field, and Houston is working hard to remain not only the world's energy capital, but to be the capital of renewable energy, too. Having Vestas as a corporate citizen is a win-win and we look forward to a long, prosperous and constantly renewable partnership."

The research centre in Houston will open in 2009 and when fully operational in 2010, Vestas Technology R&D expects for the centre to employ at least 100 employees. Additionally, Vestas will leverage its research activities through external partnerships. As such, Vestas will increase collaboration with leading technology companies, universities and institutes throughout the USA. The company has already entered into formalised relationships with leading universities in Texas and will be conducting joint research with top ranking universities in the state.

“Houston, the country's number one region in job creation, welcomes the world's number one company in wind power. This is going to be a great friendship. Vestas' presence confirms what we already know, that not only is Houston the energy capital of the World, but it is now being recognized as the energy capital of the future” says Jeff Moseley, President and CEO of the Greater Houston Partnership.

Research will primarily take place within the wind technology areas of mechanics, electricity, control systems, advanced materials and aerodynamics. A primary objective for all research initiatives in Vestas is to increase turbine efficiency and lower the cost of energy.

“The research centre constitutes a strong supplement to our North American sales and service unit and manufacturing facilities. The centre will bring us even closer to many of our key customers and will be a vital resource for our continued efforts and commitment to turn this nation's vast wind resources into clean, renewable and predictable energy,” says Jens Søby, President of Vestas Americas A/S and continues: “Houston and Texas are both prime examples of what foresight and a stable, long-term political framework in favour of wind power can lead to in terms of energy security, job creation and industry leadership.”

Any questions regarding the establishment of the research centre in Houston may be addressed to Finn Strøm Madsen, President of Vestas Technology R&D, telephone +1 832 513 8474 or +45 9730 0000, or to Peter Wenzel Kruse, Senior Vice President of Group Communications at Vestas Wind Systems A/S, telephone +45 9730 0000.