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Global Wind Industry Milestone:
GE Energy Ships its 10,000th 1.5-Megawatt Wind Turbine
Nov 17, 2008 13:00:01 (ET)
ORLANDO, Fla., Nov 17, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- GE Energy today announced the shipment of its 10,000th 1.5-megawatt wind turbine, a global wind industry milestone. Over the past decade, GE's 1.5-megawatt machines have been installed in 19 countries and have accumulated more than 130 million operating hours, producing more than 78,000 gigawatt-hours of cleaner, wind-generated electricity.
The 10,000th unit was shipped to FPL Energy, the largest U.S. generator of wind power, for the Ashtabula Wind Energy Center located in North Dakota. The milestone shipment was announced during a press conference today in Orlando.
GE's fleet of 10,000 1.5-megawatt machines can power more than five million homes and produce more than 50 million megawatt-hours annually. Compared to other power generation sources, this represents a savings of more than 27 million tons of CO2 emissions each year, the equivalent of removing more than five million U.S. cars from the road.
"We're very pleased to share this milestone celebration with FPL Energy," said Victor Abate, vice president-renewables for GE Energy. "Like GE, FPL Energy is firmly committed to increasing the supply and quality of wind power as a vital step on the road to energy security and energy independence for our country."
"GE Energy is an industry leader and a valued partner," said Mike O'Sullivan, senior vice president of FPL Energy. "Having a reliable supply of wind turbines to meet our customers' growing demand for clean and renewable wind energy has been an important ingredient in the growth and success of our wind business."
Offering proven performance and reliability, GE's 1.5-megawatt wind turbine is the most widely used megawatt-class wind turbine in the world and is recognized as the industry workhorse. This machine has been proven in nearly every wind regime, terrain and climate worldwide. GE continues to invest in technology improvements that will build upon the vast experience gained from a 10,000+ unit installed base. These investments continue to drive even higher levels of wind turbine reliability and efficiency.
Since entering the wind business in 2002, GE has continued to advance the performance and reliability of the 1.5-megawatt wind turbine through GE-designed technology including pitch systems, blades and gearboxes; improved component robustness; and better diagnostic capabilities and controls. The result is continuous improvement in overall fleet availability to a level over 98% for units commissioned since 2007.
GE's 1.5-megawatt wind turbine platform continues to evolve and benefits from GE's core power generation expertise. The XLE model of the 1.5-megawatt class turbine offers a 15% increase in swept area, resulting in greater energy output.
Delivering worldwide services technology and fast parts fulfillment is critical to maintaining reliable performance of the 1.5-megawatt fleet. GE's customer support and remote monitoring centers in Schenectady, N.Y. and Salzbergen, Germany provide continuous monitoring and diagnostic services seven days a week. The mission of these centers is to increase equipment availability and reduce downtime and operational costs. In addition, GE has opened a parts operation center near Memphis, Tenn. with fleet-wide critical parts for overnight delivery, when needed.
As the penetration of wind-generated electricity grows, it is increasingly important that wind farms have the capability to contribute to power system stability. GE has developed several products for the 1.5-megawatt wind turbine that address this requirement, including Wind RIDE-THRU, which allows uninterrupted wind turbine operation through many types of grid disturbances.
"Since 2002, we have invested more than $800 million to drive reliable and efficient wind turbine technology," said Abate. "Continuing this investment is part of our overall commitment to wind power, which will be an integral part of the world energy mix throughout the 21st century."
About GE Energy
GE Energy ( www.ge.com/energy ) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.
About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com.GE is Imagination at Work.
SOURCE: GE Energy
GE Energy
Kristin Schwarz
+1 518 385 7343
kristin.schwarz@ge.com
or
Masto Public Relations
Ken Darling or Howard Masto
+1 518 786 6488
kenneth.darling@ge.com
howard.masto@ge.com
AAERF volume on...
TSX has been above 1 million last several days - can track here: http://www.aaer.ca/page.asp?intNodeID=33722
nice pictures of their new turbine plant on their website:
AAERF chart...
stock plummetted from around 2 when company lost bid on large wind turbine contract and has yet to recover. Now they are set to start production at the end of this month and have several irons in the fire:
From recent filing --- potential to sign contract for 20 wind turbines - would be huge for them:
On April 23, 2008, AAER announced the execution of a reservation agreement with Windland Inc. for two 1.5MW wind turbines. As of August 22, 2008, the Company has met all of the conditions required by the reservation agreement, including a technical due diligence and the issuance of the appropriate financial guaranties, and the parties have executed the Turbine Supply Agreement and the Warranty, Maintenance and Service Agreement representing a total contract value of approximately $4,425,000. The Turbine Supply Agreement also provides Windland Inc. with an option to buy an additional 20 1.5MW wind turbines for deliveries between 2010 and 2013. The delivery of the two A1500 turbines is scheduled for the 4th quarter of 2008, as provided for in the original reservation agreement.
Plus - and this is perhaps the most interesting part - News from Windland's website:
August 18, 2006
COTTEREL PROJECT IN IDAHO GETS ENVIRONMENTAL OKAY FROM BLM
The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) completed an environmental review of what it called the largest wind energy project on federal land in the last 25 years — Windland, Inc.’s 200-MW Cotterel Wind Power Project, which is located on 4,500 acres of BLM-managed public land.
Approval of the “record of decision” and right-of-way grant clears the way for installation of up to 98 turbines on a ridge in south-central Idaho, five miles east of Albion in Cassia County. “Cotterel Mountain is an exceptional wind resource, and its topography lends itself well for a wind energy project,” Windland President Roald Doskeland told Wind Energy Weekly. “Completing this thorough four-year NEPA [National Environmental Policy Act] review is a major step toward bringing its energy online.”
Summary: Company that has already signed contract for 2 wind turbines has an option to buy 20 more - and previously received federal clearance to put another 98 turbines on federal land --- so AAERF could not only get the additional 20 turbines - but much more maybe even 98. But - even 20 turbines at around $3 mil a turbine would be a contract for $60 mil - that would shoot this stock above $2 IMO - and even a contract for $10 mil would send it above $1 IMO.
On watch MKBY!
JUHL might be the start of something...
NCEN Chart on fire...
Added the chart to the ibox, do you know the reason for the big drop in May?
Good to see you Pro and thanks for the DD!
profiting from the Pickens Plan happens to be on the short side, in Fuel Systems Solutions (FSYS). This is a company that provides the necessary components for a car to run on natural gas, so if Pickens Plan proliferates, FSYS stands to benefit in a big way. Ah, but there is a problem. Not in the company itself. This is a company that has seen a huge surge in revenue and profit as overseas customers convert their vehicles to the cheaper natural gas fuel. If that trend catches on in the US, expect FSYS to continue to profit big. However, this is a stock that has quadrupled in just a few months and from a technical standpoint, this is a mighty bearish looking double top (full disclosure: yes I am short on this). It's a short right here with a stop above 42.50. If it fills the gap around 20, I'm a believer on the long side in this Pickens Plan play.
http://selfinvestors.com/tradingstocks/stocks/
pickens-plan-profits-global-wind-etf-fan-clean-fuels-clne-fuel-systems-fsys
ETF - FAN focused entirely on wind energy
chart for the ibox...
It is the first exchange-traded fund (ETF) to be focused entirely on wind energy.
FAN is designed to track the performance of the ISE Global Wind Energy Index. The Index provides a benchmark for investors interested in tracking public companies throughout the world that are active in the wind energy industry.
"It is exciting for First Trust to be first to market with our global wind energy ETF," said Robert Carey, CFA, and Chief Investment Officer of First Trust Advisors L.P., the investment advisor of the ETF. "FAN allows investors to participate in the growth and development of global wind power generation through an index of international companies that are producing equipment and services for this important growth industry."
Wind Power...
http://news.aol.com/story/_a/first-us-town-powered-solely-by-wind/20080715164609990001
First US Town Powered Solely by Wind
By Andrea Thompson,LiveScience.com
Posted: 2008-07-16 08:11:51
Filed Under: Nation News
(July 15) - Rock Port, Mo., has an unusual crop: wind turbines.
The four turbines that supply electricity to the small town of 1,300 residents make it the first community in the United States to operate solely on wind power.
Steve Morse, MU Cooperative Media Group / LiveScience.com
Missouri's turbines will provide electric service for at least 20 years, the expected lifetime of the wind-to-power devices.
"That's something to be very proud of, especially in a rural area like this — that we're doing our part for the environment," said Jim Crawford, a natural resource engineer at the University of Missouri Extension in Columbia.
A map published by the U.S. Department of Energy indicates that northwest Missouri has the state's highest concentrations of wind resources and contains a number of locations that are potentially suitable for utility-scale wind development. The four turbines that power Rock Port are part of a larger set of 75 turbines across three counties that are used to harvest the power of wind.
"We're farming the wind, which is something that we have up here," Crawford said. "The payback on a per-acre basis is generally quite good when compared to a lot of other crops, and it's as simple as getting a cup of coffee and watching the blades spin."
And the turbines have another benefit besides produces clean energy: MU Extension specialists said that the Missouri wind farms will bring in more than $1.1 million annually in county real estate taxes, to be paid by Wind Capital Group, a wind energy developer based in St. Louis.
Landowners can also benefit by leasing part of their property for wind turbines.
The turbines will also provide savings to rural electric companies and will provide electric service for at least 20 years, the anticipated lifetime of the turbines.
"Anybody who is currently using Rock Port utilities can expect no increase in rates for the next 15 to 20 years," Crawford said.
Baker added that the turbines could also attract tourists to the area.
(c) 1999-2007 Imaginova Corp. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
~Rig
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