Vestas Establishes Blade Factory in China

Randers, Denmark [RenewableEnergyAccess.com] Vestas will set up a blade factory in China’s Tianjin Economic-Technological Development Area, with plans to deliver the first 39-meter blades for V80-2.0 MW wind turbines during the first half of 2006.

When the factory reaches full capacity, it will be able to produce about 600 turbine blades per year. “This location offers good access opportunities to both port, rail, and major roads of China and is therefore well suited for Vestas’ strategy for the region,” says Ole Borup Jakobsen, president of Vestas Blades A/S. The company will buy about 47 acres for the purpose. The Chinese government passed a new law last February to promote the use of sustainable energy, stating that consumers are to cover part of the costs for the use of sustainable energy, while electricity utilities are obliged to purchase supplies from sustainable sources of energy. “The target of 120,000 MW renewables installed in 2020 proves that China has ambitious plans for the development of clean energy, and we expect that wind power will account for a significant part of the 120,000 MW,” says Ditlev Engel, President and CEO of Vestas Wind Systems A/S. Vestas develops, manufactures, sells and maintains wind power systems, and has installed more than 26,000 wind turbines in 50 countries around the world, with production facilities in Denmark, Germany, Italy, Scotland, England, Spain, Sweden, Norway, India and Australia.