Vestas launches China-only wind turbine

Denmark's Vestas Wind Systems is accelerating its presence in the world's fastest growing wind market with a new factory and a specialty wind turbine.

Vestas has begun sales of its V60-850 kW turbine, which has blade designs and temperature control systems to adapt to the tough winters in Inner Mongolia. The turbine is most effective in low and medium winds, which make up 75 percent of China's unutilized onshore wind potential.

China nearly doubled its installed wind capacity in 2008, ending the year with 12.2 gigawatts, according to the Global Wind Energy Council. China is expected double capacity again this year to surpass Germany by the end of 2009 as the leading wind market (see China Wind starts production at new factory). 

"This is the first time Vestas has customized a turbine for a single, specific market," CEO Ditlev Engel said in a news release about the new turbine. "China, as a future global wind energy superpower, is one of the most importnat markets for us."

China's $585 billion stimulus plan is credited with the fast adoption of wind, with the government now estimating China will have 100 GW of wind capacity by 2020 (see China's stimulus package boosts water desal, recycling).

The turbine blades and nacelle are to be built in Vestas' new 45,000 square-meter factory in Hohhot in Inner Mongolia (see Vestas grows wind presence in China). The company has five factories in Tianjin and is building additional facilities in Xuzhou.

By sourcing 90 percent of the components for this turbine from China-based suppliers, Vestas is calling on the world's largest turbine manufacturing market (see China drives global market, supply for wind).

Vestas says it was the first turbine company to enter the Chinese market. It began installing turbines there in 1986. Vestas has manufactured and installed more than 33 GW of wind energy worldwide in the past 30 years.

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