AMSC receives order for wind turbine core electrical components from China's XJ Group

(28/01/2010)

Based in Xuchang, XJ Group is one of China’s largest manufacturers of power equipment and transmission and distribution technologies for the electric utility market. The company employs more than 10,000 people worldwide and operates facilities in 30 countries globally, including 40 locations throughout China. XJ Group is owned by State Grid Corporation, which provides power to approximately 88 percent of China.

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has received an initial order for 100 sets of wind turbine core electrical components from China’s XJ Group Corporation (XJ Group). The components will be deployed in 2 megawatt (MW) doubly fed induction wind turbines that were co-developed with AMSC Windtec™, a wholly owned subsidiary of AMSC. XJ Group erected its first 2 MW wind turbine in December 2009 and has completed construction of a new wind turbine manufacturing plant with an annual capacity of 1000 MW in the city of Xuchang in the Henan province of China. This is the third AMSC Windtec customer to enter volume production of advanced wind turbines in China.

“AMSC Windtec has provided a broad scope of services to XJ Group that has helped us build a strong foundation for our new wind turbine manufacturing business,” said Li Fusheng, president of XJ Group. “We are proud to enter production with our 2 MW wind turbines just 15 months after beginning to work with AMSC Windtec, and we see great opportunities ahead in the Chinese wind power market.”

AMSC Windtec provided XJ Group with designs for a 2 MW doubly fed induction wind turbine under a contract signed in late 2008. In addition to utilizing this standard AMSC Windtec 2 MW doubly-fed induction wind turbine design, AMSC Windtec and XJ Group jointly adapted the turbines for specific environmental and wind conditions, such as low average wind speeds, low air density and severe climates encountered in certain regions of China.

“XJ Group is a highly respected power equipment manufacturer and service provider to the electric utility industry,” said Dan McGahn, president and chief operating officer of AMSC. “They have done an excellent job of quickly entering production of high-quality wind turbines. We believe XJ Group’s manufacturing acumen and strong ties to State Grid, China’s primary grid operator, will enable them to become very successful in the wind industry.”

AMSC’s wind turbine electrical control systems and core electrical components include the company's proprietary PowerModule™ power converters, pitch and yaw converters, SCADA systems and other power electronics. They enable reliable, high-performance wind turbine operation by controlling power flows, regulating voltage, monitoring system performance, controlling the pitch of wind turbine blades and the yaw of the turbines to maximize efficiency.

Related categories:  Wind power