Massachusetts, United States [RenewableEnergyWorld.com] American Superconductor Corporation’s AMSC Windtec subsidiary has signed a follow-on contract with Dongfang Turbine Co. Ltd. to design and jointly develop 5-megawatt (MW) full conversion wind turbines for the offshore wind power market.
Dongfang has exclusive rights to the 5 MW full conversion wind turbine designs in China and plans to begin supplying the wind turbines for the worldwide offshore market in 2012. AMSC has the right of first refusal to supply the core electrical components for Dongfang’s 5 MW wind turbines.
“Dongfang has firmly established itself as a top manufacturer of wind turbines for the Chinese market and has aggressive plans to enter the global market with cutting-edge technologies,” said Wang Wei Min, vice general manager and chief engineer of Dongfang. “We are happy to expand our relationship with AMSC and add this higher-power, full conversion wind turbine to our portfolio to help meet the growing demand for clean, wind-generated electricity.”
Dongfang entered the wind power market in 2004 and shipped more than 800 wind turbines with a 1.5 MW power rating in 2008, making it China’s third largest wind turbine manufacturer. The company is expected to commission a prototype 2.5 MW wind turbine designed under a prior agreement with AMSC Windtec and will enter volume production of these wind turbines in the second half of 2010.
