World Wind Watch | Green Energy News

September 11, 2005 – Vol.10 No.25

WORLD WIND WATCH.

Before Bonus Energy became part of Siemens Power Generation late in 2004 it was a minor player in the wind turbine business. Now with the power and money of a big international corporation behind it, Bonus is ready to move into the big leagues. The proof? The company has just signed an order with the largest wind power generator in the U.S. - FPL Energy - to provide up to 600 megawatts in wind turbine capacity.

Bonus, now Siemens, will manufacture, install and commission a fleet of 2.3-MW Mk II wind turbines for FPL in projects set for construction in 2006 and beyond.

Wind power is expected to grow in the U.S. at least for the next couple of years with the production tax credit (PTC) for wind energy available to the end of 2007. High natural gas prices, too, will make wind energy appealing. Wind energy can supplant natural gas fueled power plants at peak demand periods, coincidentally the windiest part of the day. Visit Siemens at http://www.siemens.com/powergeneration . and FPL Energy at http://www.fplenergy.com/

GE is beginning to rack up new orders for 2006 and beyond as well. The company will be supplying 300 megawatts in nameplate turbine capacity to PPM Energy for installation in unspecified projects in the U.S.

In Germany GE will be expanding its presence too. The company, through its Financial Services unit, has acquired the Alsleben wind project from EAB Technology Group. Alsleben, located between Magdeburg and Halle, will be one of Germany's largest wind farms and will have 37 GE 1.5-megawatt turbines, the company’s most popular model.

And, GE has been making steady inroads into the Chinese wind power market. Hebei Zhangbei Wind Project in northeastern China will get 30, GE 1.5 megawatt turbines and the Xinjiang Tuoli Wind Project in northwestern China with 20, 1.5s as well. The turbines for the two projects will be manufactured in Germany.

In the past two years the company has installed 47 turbines in other projects in China and Inner Mongolia. Visit GE (wind division) at http://www.gewind.com/

The world’s second largest wind turbine manufacturer, Gamesa, has also taken a large turbine order. The company will be supplying 214 megawatts in turbine capacity to Spanish wind energy generator Ibereolica. The supply agreement runs to 2008 and includes maintenance services. Visit Gamesa at http://www.gamesa.es/

Optimistic about its wind turbine sales Clipper Windpower, a newcomer to the wind turbine business, has said it will buy Xantrex inverters for its 2.5 megawatt Liberty turbine. In a supply agreement Clipper will purchase a specified (put undisclosed) minimum number of inverters from Xantrex. The value of the deal is approximately $10 million.

The first Liberty turbines will be installed at a new wind project in the U.S. state of Maryland. Visit Xantrex at http://www.xantrex.com/ and Clipper Wind at http://www.clipperwind.com/

Safeway, one of the largest food and drug retailers in the U.S. , has agreed to buy wind generated electricity to power 100 percent of the company’s 270 gasoline filling stations. Wind generated electricity will be used to power pumps, lighting and other equipment.