Wind turbines: The U.S. Secretary of Energy visits the Ingeteam facilities in Milwaukee

The purpose of the visit, organised at the Department of Energy’s own initiative, was to allow the Secretary of Energy to get first-hand insight into Ingeteam’s work in the United States, a country in which Ingeteam has been established since 2010. This visit represents the physical confirmation of the U.S. Government’s support for the work of companies specialising in renewable energies in general, and, in particular, for the work of this company in this sector. Thanks to its annual investments in R&D&I, Ingeteam is positioned amongst the world leaders in the renewable energy sector.

During the visit, the Ingeteam directors gave the Secretary of Energy a guided tour of the facilities, comprising factory and offices, which together occupy a total surface area of 33,500 m2, facilities in which Ingeteam invested more than ten million Euros. Steven Chu, accompanied by the Mayor of Milwaukee, Tom Barret, emphasised the importance of Ingeteam’s inverter and generator component manufacturing business for the future of the U.S. economy and for Green Jobs.

Furthermore, Mr Chu took advantage of his visit to show his support for the renewal of the "Production Tax Credits" which are directed at promoting the generation of wind power. This is an essential instrument for financing wind power projects and the renewal of this scheme is vital for businesses in the wind power sector.

Mr Chu also showed his support for schemes such as the "Advance Manufacturing Tax Credit", which provides incentives for investments in manufacturing in the renewables sector and which Ingeteam has already benefited from.

It should be highlighted that, to date, the wind power generating systems made by Ingeteam have achieved a world market share of 8%. Furthermore, Ingeteam Inc. has made it possible to produce equipment equivalent to 7,500 MW per annum, allowing Ingeteam to cover the needs of its customers in the United States. This U.S. subsidiary manufactures a number of converter – generator product ranges covering power outputs ranging from 1.5 to 5 MW for wind power applications. Whilst, for the PV solar market, the production of converters (inverters) covers power outputs ranging from 2.5 to 500 kW.

Ingeteam in Milwaukee

The city of Milwaukee and the State of Wisconsin have shown a firm commitment to the establishment and maintenance of Ingeteam Inc, Ingeteam’s subsidiary in the United States. The company’s facilities are located very close to the city centre, in what is known as the Menomonee Valley, a former railway manufacturing complex for which the city has been developing a revitalisation and reindustrialisation plan for the last twelve years. Today the recovery of the industrial estate is a fact and Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin alike are making every effort to maintain the Ingeteam project, which is perfectly in keeping with the model for sustainable development and the generation of employment and wealth that the city is aiming for.

Milwaukee is ideally located for supplying products to the entire country whilst its industrial fabric is suitable for developing the local supply chain required. Furthermore, the area of Milwaukee is home to some leading universities, with top-class engineering departments specifically focussed on renewable energies, proving extremely useful when specialist personnel are required.

www.ingeteam.com