Wind Energy

LM Glasfiber establishes fourth blade manufacturing facility in China

The agreement comprises a firm blade supply contract of minimum 2,000 MW for Envision’s wind turbines, starting with their 1.5 MW wind turbine. As a result of the agreement, LM Glasfiber will establish its fourth wind power manufacturing facility in China, in Jiangyin, close to Shanghai. Production in the new factory is on track to begin in Q2 this year.

This agreement also marks one of LM Glasfiber’s first large scale wind energy contract based on the new innovative rotor blade concept called GloBlade®.

The LM 42.1 GloBlade®1 offers a step change to the industry standard for the 1.5 MW wind turbines currently available in the wind energy market. GloBlade®1 offers an innovative aerodynamic design developed in LM Glasfiber’s wind tunnel which allows for an additional annual energy production increase of 4-5% over 40.3 blades. This enables LM Glasfiber’s wind power customers to open new markets for wind class III all around the world.

Lei Zhang, CEO of Envision says: "I am pleased to have signed this agreement with LM Glasfiber ensuring the delivery of high performing, high quality blades for our high quality wind turbines. LM Glasfiber’s know-how, global footprint and long track record in the wind farm business will be a great asset to us as we expand our business in China and internationally."

Ian Telford, VP Sales and Marketing of LM Glasfiber adds: "We are looking forward to our close cooperation with Envision which is a very professional and ambitious Chinese player. With this agreement we further strengthen our foothold in China and secure our continued growth in this strategically important market. We again prove our leadership within rotor blade design as we bring the first series of GloBlades® to the market. This innovative concept, with highly efficient blades that set new standards for cost of energy from wind, will not only increase our market share in China but expand the potential wind market into lower wind areas across the world."

LM Glasfiber’s fourth Chinese factory will be located in a new renewable energy business development area next to the Yangtze river in Jiangyin about two hours drive west of China’s largest city, Shanghai. The area offers excellent logistics and easy access to the growing offshore wind power market.
 
Work on the site has already started based on LM Glasfiber’s modular factory design enabling easy and fast ramp-up and capacity expansion. Once in operation, the factory will provide work for app. 225 people.

LM Glasfiber established manufacturing in China in 2001 with the opening of its first factory in Tianjin. The second facility was opened in Urumqi in 2007 followed by the third in Qin Huang Dao in 2009.

Envision Energy is a leading manufacturer of high quality wind turbines based in China and backed by a European investment firm. Envision has a Global Innovation Center in Silkeborg, Denmark and an R&D Center in China ensuring in-house development of state-of-the-art technology. Its manufacturing base is located in Jiangyin, Jiangsu Province, China.

www.lmglasfiber.com