AMSC supplies wind turbine core electrical components to CSR-ZELRI in China

(26/01/2009)

According to the Chinese Wind Energy Association, China will grow its base of wind power from 5.9 gigawatts (GW) at the end of 2007 to more 10 gigawatts in 2008. In its Global Wind Energy Outlook 2008 report, the Global Wind Energy Council estimates that China’s installed base could grow to 101 GW by 2020 under its “moderate” outlook scenario and 201 GW under its “advanced” scenario.

American Superconductor Corporation has announced that it has received a multi-million-dollar order for 100 sets of its wind turbine core electrical components from China’s CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Research Institute Co., Ltd. The company will use the components in 1.65 megawatt (MW) wind turbines designed by AMSC’s wholly owned AMSC Windtec® subsidiary. Under the terms of the contract, AMSC expects to ship all of the core electrical components by the end of calendar 2009 to support CSR-ZELRI’s increased production of wind turbines.

AMSC’s core electrical components include the company’s proprietary PowerModule™ PM3000W power converter and enable reliable, high-performance wind turbine operation by controlling power flows, regulating voltage, monitoring system performance and controlling the pitch of wind turbine blades to maximize efficiency. Introduced in late 2008, the PM3000W is a fully programmable, flexible and modular power converter developed specifically for wind turbines with power ratings up to 6 MW.

“China’s wind industry continues to move forward at an aggressive pace through the global economic downturn, and further growth is projected for the next decade,” said Du Jinsong, general manager of CSR-ZELRI's wind power business unit. “AMSC Windtec’s wind turbine designs, localization and supply chain support and proven power electronics allowed us to quickly enter this rapid growth market and aid in meeting China’s objective to increase electricity supply while also reducing carbon emissions.”

Based in Zhuzhou City in the Hunan province of China, CSR-ZELRI first began working with AMSC Windtec in January 2007. Under the terms of the original license agreement, AMSC also received the right to provide CSR-ZELRI with core electrical components for all of its 1.65 MW wind turbines. Including this latest order, CSR-ZELRI has ordered more than 170 sets of core electrical components from AMSC to date.

“CSR-ZELRI has done a tremendous job of ramping up production of high quality wind turbines in a very short time,” said Greg Yurek, founder and chief executive officer of AMSC. “We expect CSR-ZELRI to continue its rapid growth and to take a significant share of the Chinese wind turbine market in the years ahead.”

Related categories:  Eco-friendly Power generation   Wind power