According to the agreement, Goldwind gains the license to produce Infineon IGBT (Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor) stacks used in converters of MW (Megawatt)-grade wind turbines. Furthermore, Infineon will supply IGBT stacks to Goldwind. IGBTs are power semiconductors which enable the efficient conversion of the variable frequency output from the generator to a fixed frequency appropriate for the grid in the region concerned.
“Introduction of the technology and the subsequent in-house production will effectively secure supply of the core converter component, deliver larger cost effectiveness and strengthen the in-house converter development. This will enhance competitiveness of our products,” said Wu Gang, board chairman of Goldwind, at today’s signing ceremony. “From this partnership, we can learn from sophisticated process technologies and quality control experience from Infineon, which is expected to contribute to improvement of our production management and control.”
“Goldwind’s decision is a great confirmation for our leading IGBT technology providing best-in-class energy efficiency, high reliability and robustness,” said Arunjai Mittal, Division President of the Industrial & Multimarket Division at Infineon Technologies. “Power semiconductors are vital components used in energy generation, energy distribution and energy conversion applications.”
Infineon further plans to set up an application engineering centre in Beijing. As wind turbines evolve toward higher capacity and grid friendliness, full-power converters has become one of the most critical elements of PMDD (Permanent Magnet Direct Drive) wind turbines, for example those manufactured by Goldwind for wind farm.
Infineon has been supplying IGBT stacks to converters developed and manufactured by Goldwind since 2007. From their first installed base at Beijing Guanting Reservoir in July 2009, Goldwind converters featuring Infineon IGBT stacks have delivered an availability of over 99 percent and survived several tests under extreme conditions.
With outstanding quality and performance, Infineon stacks have become Goldwind’s first choice for its in-house developed converters produced in volume. Goldwind deems it the right time to introduce the Infineon technology as it has gained abundant experience in development of converters over recent years and its new facility in Beijing will shortly be on stream. Having applied the IGBT stacks in its 1.5MW wind turbines, Goldwind plans to extend it to its 2.5MW and further to 3.0MW units now under volume production and further to 6MW offshore models now under development after the local ramp-up. As scheduled, Goldwind will deliver its first 6MW prototype in mid 2012.
Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (“Goldwind”), is China’s premier wind turbine manufacturer, with strong independent R&D capabilities and the longest operating history in the domestic wind energy sector. The company’s Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) technology is at the cutting edge of the global wind energy industry.
Goldwind wind turbines are in operation throughout China and are also sold in major international markets including Europe and the Americas. Goldwind is listed on both the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (SZSE: 002202) and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKSE: 2208). For fiscal year 2009, the company’s revenue and net profit exceeded 10.7 billion RMB and 1.7 billion RMB respectively.
Since its founding in 1998, Goldwind has been committed to preserving the environment by advancing the cause of green energy. As of June 30, 2010, the company’s cumulative sales amounted to more than 8,000 wind turbines, potentially replacing 7 million tons of standard coal and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 17 million tons per year.
Infineon Technologies AG, Neubiberg, Germany, offers semiconductor and system solutions addressing three central challenges to modern society: energy efficiency, mobility, and security. In the 2010 fiscal year (ending September 30), the company reported sales of Euro 3.295 billion with approximately 26,650 employees worldwide.
With a global presence, Infineon operates through its subsidiaries in the U.S. from Milpitas, CA, in the Asia-Pacific region from Singapore, and in Japan from Tokyo. Infineon is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: IFX) and in the USA on the over-the-counter market OTCQX International Premier (ticker symbol: IFNNY).
