The establishment of new cutting-edge Vestas Technology R&D Centre China will spearhead innovation in wind turbines technology. As an equal partner to Vestas global R&D Centres located in Denmark, UK, US, India and Singapore, Vestas Technology R&D Centre China is a gateway for channeling Vestas’ world-class wind energy knowledge to support innovation of Chinese wind technology to China. It will also be pivotal in sharing successful Chinese experiences to other markets.
In the long term, Vestas Technology R&D Centre China will cover a full palette of competences such as high voltage engineering, aerodynamics, material development and software development. With these competences, the centre will develop state-of-the-art technology which will significantly reduce the Cost of Energy. These technologies will cover the complete Vestas product portfolio. With a planned total investment of US$50 million over five years, Vestas Technology R&D Centre China will double the staff from 100 by the end of 2010 to over 200 engineers and technology specialists in 2012.
"As an integrated part of our global innovation network, Vestas Technology R&D Centre China will fully maximize the talent and experience we have in China, incubate innovative solutions with local engineering talents, and build stronger connections between the Chinese and global wind energy industries by sharing knowledge and experience with counterparts in other centres around the world," said Finn Strom Madsen, President of Vestas Technology R&D.
With established manufacturing, sourcing and sales operations in Tianjin, Hohhot, Xuzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing, Vestas Technology R&D Centre China completes Vestas’ value chain in China and will significantly improve Vestas’ agility in the market. Vestas offers some of the most reliable products in China from kW to MW platforms for both onshore and offshore segments. With the China Technology R&D Centre, Vestas intends to significantly increase its responsiveness to market demands and development trends in terms of new technology.
Jens Tommerup, President of Vestas China, said the opening of the Vestas Technology R&D Centre China supports the Chinese government’s vision of China evolving from manufacturing to innovation, and is a natural step in Vestas’ development.
"China has a unique environment by virtue of its nature and geography, its rapid economic growth and ambitious wind energy policies. Thus, Vestas regards China as one of the most important markets and wants to follow its development closely and actively interact with industry stakeholders," said Jens Tommerup. He added, “Vestas China Technology R&D Centre represents our intention to bring the best of our knowledge to China and is a major step in Vestas’ continuous commitment to its development. It is our intent to use this Technology Centre as a platform for future partnerships in China and internationally.”
Mr. Cao Jianlin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Danish Ambassador to China, Mr. Friis Arne Petersen participated in the inauguration of the R&D Centre and expressed their views and visions. Vice Minister Cao said, “China welcomes talents, entrepreneurs and multinational corporations from all over the world to continue to develop partnerships in the pursuit of win-win outcomes,” He added, “Vestas’ Technology R&D Centre China brings in world’s leading technology as well as focusing on fostering local talents. I believe, this brings along many opportunities and achievements in China’s transformation from ‘Made in China’ to ‘Invented in China’.”
Ambassador Petersen said, “Vestas has made important contributions to Denmark’s economic development towards higher energy efficiency and increased energy conservation. We are very pleased to see that Vestas and its partners in China are growing together, and we also hope that Vestas will have more engagements in the areas of R&D.”
Vestas Technology R&D Centre China will strengthen Vestas’ current research partnerships and collaboration with renowned universities, research institutions and wind energy communities in China. Such partnerships and collaboration can further drive innovation in Vestas’ endeavors to developing sophisticated wind technology solutions. For example, Vestas has conducted a joint research study with State Grid, sponsored Ph.D. programs at Tsinghua University and Xi’an Jiaotong University and actively contributed to a Sino-Danish Wind Energy Development Program aiming at training wind energy professionals for the local industry. These programs address one of the most challenging issues for wind energy, not only in China, but worldwide, namely how to improve large scale grid integration wind power.
Vestas has always been a key player since its participation in building the first wind farm in 1986. Vestas is committed to work with partners in China’s wind energy industry and to further develop based on innovation and internationalization.
Vestas is the world leader in wind turbines technology, with a history of technological innovation and over 30 years of experience in developing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining intelligent, high performing and high quality wind power plant solutions. Vestas was a pioneer in the wind industry and started to manufacture wind turbines in 1979.
Vestas installed China’s first wind turbines in Shandong in 1986, and has as of June 30 2010, installed more than 2,100 MW of clean energy across thirteen provinces in China. This makes Vestas one of the biggest accumulated suppliers of wind power plants.
Over the past few years, Vestas has established a firmly rooted presence in China with more than RMB 3.5 billion worth of investments and more than 3,000 employees, committed to deliver high quality wind energy solutions for a sustainable energy future.
Vestas has its largest integrated manufacturing complex globally situated in Tianjin, its China headquarters in Beijing, a factory in Hohhot, a global procurement office in Shanghai, and a state-of-the-art foundry in Xuzhou.
On October 12 2010, Vestas opened its China Technology R&D Centre, which is an important part of Vestas’ global innovation network and represents Vestas’ intention to bring the best of its knowledge to China. Furthermore, the Technology R&D Centre is significantly increasing Vestas’ responsiveness to market demands and development trends in terms of new technology.
As the global leader in wind energy, Vestas is committed to helping develop China’s wind energy sector into a world-class modern renewable energy sector. Vestas is actively sharing its 30 years of industry experience and expertise with partners and stakeholders in the Chinese wind energy industry.
