CEZ Fantanele and Cogealac Wind Farms to Help Romania Reach its EU-Mandated Renewable Energy Targets
PRAGUE, CZECH REPUBLIC---September 8, 2009---GE Energy has signed an agreement to supply up to 101 of its 2.5xl wind turbines to CEZ Romania for Cogealac, the second phase of the Fantanele wind project. When both phases are completed, they will create the largest onshore wind farm in Europe. CEZ Romania is part of CEZ Group, the largest utility in Central Europe.
The European Union (EU) currently has a goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions 20% while increasing renewable energy capacity 20% by the year 2020. To reach this objective, the EU has set national targets for each EU member state, based on the per capita GDP of each country. The Fantanele and Cogealac projects are helping Romania reach its EU commitment to increase the amount of renewables, including wind, in the country's energy mix. According to the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA), at the end of 2008 only 10MW of wind generation equipment was installed in Romania, accounting for less than 1% of installed generating capacity.
In October of 2008, GE announced it will supply 139 2.5xl wind turbines for Fantanele, the first phase of the project, and construction in this phase is already underway. When phase two is completed in 2011, the site will have a total capacity of 600 megawatts of wind power, enough wind-generated electricity to meet the requirements of more than 400,000 homes.
The Romanian government has created legislation that is favorable to the development of renewable energy resources, granting significant incentives for wind farms and other renewable energy projects through 2015. This has encouraged investors and developers to pursue projects in the country.
"Romania is an excellent example of how good policy can drive investments in the energy sector," said Rod Christie, president of GE Energy for CEE, Russia & CIS. "Good legislation helps to pave the way for projects such as Fantanele and Cogealac and will help Romania achieve its EU-mandated renewable energy targets and modernize and diversify its energy infrastructure."
The Fantanele and Cogealac projects are located in Dobrogea, Constanta County, Romania, which has some of the strongest wind power potential in the country.
GE's 2.5xl Technology
The 2.5xl wind turbine represents GE's most advanced wind turbine technology in terms of efficiency, reliability and grid connection capabilities. It is designed to yield the highest annual energy production in its class and builds upon the success of GE's 1.5-megawatt wind turbine, the world's most widely deployed wind turbine with more than 12,000 now installed.
Nearly 200 of GE's 2.5-megawatt wind turbines have been installed in nine countries in both 50- and 60-hertz configurations and have compiled more than one million operating hours. In addition, GE has received commitments to provide the 2.5xl for projects over the next year that will total more than one gigawatt of capacity.
Most of GE's 2.5xl wind turbines for European projects are manufactured at GE Energy's wind turbine facility in Salzbergen, Germany, which recently was expanded to help meet Europe's growing demand for wind turbines.
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 2008 revenue of $29.3 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.
Howard Masto
Masto Public Relations
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Ken Darling
Masto Public Relations
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GE news Kathleen Noonan
Masto Public Relations
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