Siemens Receives Order for Offshore Wind Energy Plant in China

The wind turbines, with a 101-metre rotor diameter, will be installed at the project off Rudong County in Jiangsu province, with commissioning expected in late 2011.

The 50 MW wind farm contract includes a five-year service and maintenance agreement, and Siemens claims the order is a breakthrough in its renewable energy strategy.

“We see good opportunities for offshore wind power in China with its shallow water near the consumption centres on the coast,” says Jens-Peter Saul, chief executive of the Siemens Wind Power business unit.

According to the Chinese Renewable Energy Industries Association (CREIA), China will expand its offshore wind power capacity to 5GW by 2015 and 30GW by 2020.

With around 45GW of total wind capacity and a growth rate of 73% from 2009 to 2010, China is currently the world`s largest wind-power market.

Siemens opened its first blade manufacturing plant in China in November 2010 and a nacelle plant earlier this year, both in Shanghai.

Siemens has carved out a leading position in the offshore wind energy in Europe, and is currently developing a 6MW direct-drive wind turbine to be produced at a new manufacturing plant in Hull, UK.

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