The Cypress Branches Out: Large New Winds Farms In Turkey And Poland Order GE Turbines

Last week, the Turkish renewable-energy operator Borusan EnBW Enerji announced an order for 27 Cypress wind turbines — GE Renewable Energy’s largest land-based wind turbine. The first one set down roots in Holland earlier this year, and the wind turbine “platform” continues to spread its canopy. Or, rather, spread its blades: The rotor uses three revolutionary blades that can be transported and assembled from two pieces, allowing the diameter of this machine to stretch a stupendous 158 meters. That’s about the same length as a midsize New York City skyscraper turned on its side — all the better to capture wind and convert it to electricity. The new order, which marks the first sale for the Cypress in Turkey, will provide enough capacity to power the equivalent of 190,000 homes in that country. Manar Al-Moneef, president and CEO of onshore wind for the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, said, “Borusan EnBW Enerji is one of the biggest investors in wind energy in Turkey, and we are thrilled to be working together and help our customer reach its renewable energy goals.”
Also last week, GE Renewable Energy announced that it had been selected to provide 81 onshore wind turbines to power the 220 MW Potegowo Wind Project in northern Poland. Peter Wells, onshore wind CEO for Europe and sub-Saharan Africa at GE Renewable Energy, said the deal is a chance to “reiterate our commitment to bring sustainable green electrons to the Polish grid.” When completed, the project will be one of the largest wind farms in Poland and will bring GE Renewable Energy’s installed base in the country from 580 MW to a whopping 800 MW. The wind farm is expected to help save 480,000 tons of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

Top image: The first Cypress set down roots earlier this year, and the wind turbine “platform” continues to spread its canopy. Above: The Cypress platform at a glance. (Click to enlarge.) Top and above images credit: GE Renewable Energy.