A subsidiary of Chinese wind turbine manufacturer XEMC is set to debut its first wind turbines in Europe after signing an £18m deal with Irish developer Gaelectric.
Gaelectric confirmed yesterday that it had signed a co-development deal with XEMC VWEC to install 13.6MW of turbines on three Irish onshore wind farms.
The deal will see Gaelectric install XEMC VWEC’s new Direct Drive Permanent Magnet Generator XV90 turbines at Roosky in Co. Roscommon, Leabeg in Co. Offaly and Crowinstown in Westmeath.
Speaking at the contract signing in Dublin, XEMC group chairman Zhou Jianxiong said that the three wind farms are particularly suitable for direct drive technology, predicting that the relatively low number of moving parts will cut service and maintenance costs, and generate high availability and annual yields for the wind farms.
“Gaelectric’s pipeline of wind farm projects in key locations, combined with our shared focus on innovation in renewable energy technologies, makes us ideal allies in co-developing Gaelectric’s portfolio of renewable power projects,” he said.
XEMC is aiming to become a leader in Direct Drive Permanent Magnet Generator technologies through its acquisition of Dutch renewable energy technology firm Darwind in 2009.
Gaelectric chief executive Brendan McGrath said that the alliance with XEMC represents a major step forward for the company’s project pipeline.
“Our visit to China in March confirmed to us XEMC’s commitment to research and development, which combines Dutch engineering design and pedigree with Chinese industrial power,” he said.
“We also share a vision for the significant opportunities from offshore wind energy generation on which we are already working closely together.”
XEMC Darwind also recently installed a 5MW prototype offshore turbine in the Netherlands as the company looks to challenge European rivals which currently dominate the offshore wind sector.
