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American Superconductor gets new big wind deal

Jeff Richgels  —  10/08/2008 11:38 am

American Superconductor Corp., which has its booming wind power unit based in Middleton, on Wednesday announced that it has signed another multimillion-dollar contract for wind power in China.

The deal makes XJ Group Corp. the fifth manufacturer to provide American Superconductor's Windtec-designed wind turbines to the Chinese market.

Under the terms of the deal, American Superconductor will provide XJ Group with designs for its WT2000df, a two-megawatt wind turbine, and will provide core electrical components for the turbines manufactured by XJ Group.

While XJ Group initially expects to produce wind turbines for the Chinese market, the company has the right to sell them globally. XJ Group plans to have its first prototypes installed and commissioned by the end of 2009 and expects to begin shipping wind turbines to customers in 2010.

"The wind power market in China and around the world continues to expand at a dramatic rate," Li Fusheng, president of XJ Group, said in a statement. "We selected AMSC Windtec because of its proven turbine designs, its ability to help us localize our supply chain and its high-performance wind turbine electrical systems."

XJ Group is one of China's largest manufacturers of power equipment and transmission and distribution technologies for the electric utility market. It employs more than 5,000 people worldwide and operates facilities in 30 countries globally, including 40 locations across China.

Recent reports have indicated that China may increase its wind power capacity from six gigawatts at the end of 2007 to 100 gigawatts by 2020, American Superconductor said. This would require approximately 47,000 two-megawatt wind turbines over a 12-year time frame.

Jeff Richgels  —  10/08/2008 11:38 am