GE Energy's Wind Turbines Selected For New Project In India
ATLANTA, GA (May 16, 2005) — Surana Industries Limited of Chennai, India, a producer of thermo mechanically treated (TMT) bar steel and stainless steel products and components, is turning to wind energy to help power its factories. The company has selected GE Energy's wind turbine technology for a 12-megawatt wind farm to be located in the village of Radhapuram in the state of Tamilnadu, South India.
GE is supplying eight of its 1.5-megawatt wind turbines for the project, which is scheduled for commissioning in July of 2005 and is expected to generate approximately 36 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. GE also is providing technical advisory services for the erection and commissioning of the turbines, and operation and maintenance services for five years.
The project site is approximately 12 kilometers northeast of Kanyakumari, a world-renowned tourist area. With more than 1,000 megawatts of wind turbines already installed in the region, Kanyakumari offers India greatest wind power potential.
The Surana Wind Farm marks GE Energy's second wind project in India. Last year, GE supplied 18 of its 1.5-megawatt wind turbines for the Nuziveedu Seeds Ltd. Wind Power Project in Karnataka State, South India.
GE's 1.5-megawatt wind turbines are among the mostly widely tested and used wind turbines in the world, with more than 3,000 installed worldwide.
India currently ranks fifth in the world and first in Asia with approximately 3,000 megawatts of installed wind capacity. The interest of private investors and developers in setting up commercial wind projects, combined with federal and state renewable energy initiatives, have been key factors driving the growth of the country's wind industry.
"India offers very exciting opportunities for the wind industry," said Robert Gleitz, general manager of GE Energy's wind power business. "With an untapped wind power potential estimated at 45,000 megawatts, and strong interest in adding renewable energy capacity, the country can be a cornerstone for wind energy development across Asia."
While GE is relatively new to the Indian wind industry, the company is one of the leading foreign investors in the country. GE employs more than 21,000 people in India, has a local market turnover approaching US$1 billion, and exports more than US$1 billion of products and services from India to countries around the globe. In addition, GE's John F. Welch Technology Center in Bangalore was the first facility of its kind in India and employs more than 1,300 scientists and researchers.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.gepower.com) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technology, with 2004 revenue of $17.3 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy provides equipment, service and management solutions across the power generation, oil and gas, transmission and distribution, distributed power and energy rental industries.
With wind turbine design, manufacturing and assembly facilities in Germany, Spain and the United States, GE Energy's current wind energy portfolio includes wind turbines with rated outputs ranging from 1.5 to 3.6 megawatts, and support services ranging from project development assistance to operation and maintenance. The company's knowledge base includes the development and/or installation of more than 7,100 wind turbines with a total rated capacity of 5,600 megawatts.
For more information, contact:
GE Energy:
Dennis Murphy
GE Energy
+1 678 844 6948
dennis.murphy@ps.ge.com
