They will cover mid-scale wind turbine market to power communities, manufacturing plants, schools and large industrial facilities. "Distributed and community wind farm is the next frontier for Gamesa," said David Rosenberg, Vice President of Marketing for Gamesa North America. "Combine our turbine platform with Harvest the Wind’s vast network of distributed wind developers, and the wind energy solutions we can jointly bring to communities and businesses across North America is enormous."
Gamesa’s G5X-850 kW platform, renowned for its outstanding reliability and excellent output, is a perfect fit for community and distributed wind energy projects. First installed in 2001, the turbine’s performance is well tested and validated, with more than 9,482 units (8,060 MW) installed around the world.
Because Gamesa continuously adapts its equipment to the most demanding connection grids and surroundings, the G5X-850 kW is a top choice for development regardless of environmental conditions -corrosive, desert dry, humid, high or low temperatures, etc-. This environmental flexibility is vital to developers as community and distributed wind energy projects spread across the United States and occupy a variety of terrains.
Distributed and community wind projects are among fastest-growing segment in the U.S. wind industry as more cooperatives, smaller utilities, commercial businesses, small and large industries, and communities embrace the clean-energy opportunities and utility savings.
"No company is better equipped to serve these markets than Gamesa," Rosenberg said. "And now, by working with Harvest the Wind Network, even more communities and businesses will have access to the technology they need to put the wind to work for them."
Independent dealer network with more than 50 years in the business
Harvest the Wind Network is part of BTI Inc., a fourth-generation family business in southwest Kansas. BTI launched the network while rebuilding after one of the nation’s most powerful tornados destroyed their business and community in Greensburg, Kansas, in May 2007. The small southwest Kansas town resolved to rebuild as America’s "greenest city," and BTI Inc. was reborn, with a new addition, BTI Wind Energy LLC.
Harvest the Wind Network consists of 13 independent dealer groups in more than 200 locations. The network has installed and is servicing over 125 turbines, with more than 100 projects in progress ranging in size from 50 kilowatts to 10 megawatts. In this new partnership with Gamesa, Harvest the Wind Network is pioneering the midsized turbine market.
"The United States currently has a mid-scale wind turbine void that will be filled with this timely partnership," says Haley Estes, Vice President of Harvest the Wind Network. "The two companies will provide American industries with the ability to power manufacturing plants, schools and large industrial facilities, which will create nationwide jobs and foster energy independence."
Gamesa in the US
Gamesa’s manufacturing presence in the US dates back to 2005. Today Gamesa has two factories in Pennsylvania and employs 900 people in North America. The North American market currently represents 14% of Gamesa’s total global wind turbine sales volumes (MW).
Gamesa was the recipient of the U.S. Export-Import Bank’s ‘Renewable Energy Exporter of the Year’ award in 2011. With a track record stretching back 18 years and installation of more than 24,000 MW in 35 countries on five continents, Gamesa has established itself as a world technology leader in the global wind power industry. Its end-to-end sector presence encompasses the design, construction and installation of wind turbines along with the performance of O&M services, with 16,300 MW under maintenance.
Gamesa has more than thirty factories in Europe, the US, China, India and Brazil and a global headcount of 8,000. It is also a global benchmark in the development, construction and sale of wind farms. Gamesa has already installed almost 5,000 MW and currently boasts a pipeline of over 23,800 MW at varying stages of development in Europe, the Americas and Asia.
By José Santamarta, www.gamesacorp.com
