ATLANTA, GEORGIA (June 18, 2003) --- GE Wind Energy, a business unit of GE Power Systems, has entered into an agreement with ENERNOVA, Novas Energías SA, to supply wind turbines and construct three turnkey wind farms in northern Portugal. ENERNOVA is a subsidiary of Electricidade de Portugal (EDP), the largest utility in Portugal.
The three wind energy projects, totaling 31.5 megawatts of new capacity, will consist of 21 of GE's 1.5-megawatt wind turbines. Project sites include Fonte da Quelha and Alto do Talefe, which will have eight wind turbines each, and Padrela, where there will be five turbines.
With civil works scheduled to begin in mid June 2003, the wind farms are expected to be connected to the grid and producing energy by January 2004.
"We are pleased to work with ENERNOVA to bring additional clean, renewable wind power to the people of Portugal," said Antonio Casla, managing director for GE Wind Energy in Spain and Portugal. "These projects represent GE Wind Energy's first wind turbine installations in Portugal and further demonstrate the growing worldwide interest in wind energy development."
With just over 200 megawatts of installed wind energy capacity in Portugal as of January 2003, GE Wind Energy's new installations will increase the country's wind energy by more than 15%. According to BTM Consult, a Danish consulting firm, approximately 450 megawatts are expected to be installed in Portugal over the next five years.
GE's 1.5 MW machines are among the most widely sold and tested wind turbines in their size category, with more than 1300 units installed worldwide. The machines currently are designed and assembled at GE Wind Energy's facilities in Spain, Germany and the U.S.
Adding wind turbine technology to GE Power Systems' full line of power generation options supports the company's on-going commitment to provide customers with the broadest possible range of energy solutions. GE Power Systems recently reported that in 2003, approximately 85% of its total revenues will come from cleaner, more efficient or renewable energy technologies.
Electricidade de Portugal Group (EDP) is an electricity operator and a multidisciplinary organization with activities that extend to such diverse areas as telecommunications and the Internet.
GE Wind Energy designs and manufactures wind turbines with rated outputs between 900 and 3,600 kilowatts, and offers support services ranging from project development to operation and maintenance. The company has developed and/or sold over 5,500 wind turbines with a rated capacity exceeding 3,200 megawatts, and employs more than 1,700 people worldwide.
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