GE Leverages Its Local Expertise to Provide Proven Solutions to Leading Wind Turbine OEM XEMC Windpower in China
Driven by energy security, decarburization and industrial benefit, the Chinese government has set up an ambitious plan to achieve 30-gigawatt installations by 2020 in the offshore wind industry. China’s offshore wind industry has seen robust growth over the past few years. XEMC Windpower Co. Ltd, one of China’s leading offshore Wind OEMs, is capitalizing on the opportunity and collaborating with GE (NYSE: GE) to power the future offshore wind farms in China. GE’s Power Conversion business, a sub-business of GE Energy Connections, is set to provide its proven 5-megawatt (MW) medium-voltage (MV) converter to XEMC Windpower Co. Ltd. based on the MV7000 product platform. In offshore wind farms, equipment reliability is one of the primary concerns for farm operators and owners. With prototypes of similar technologies already installed and operational for decades in Europe and China, GE’s 5-MW MV7000 converters are the ideal fit for the rapidly expanding Chinese offshore industry. MV solutions create less loss compared to their low-voltage counterparts, which is of utmost importance when the wind farms are located far away from the shores.
Thanks to its strong local presence, industry know-how, local manufacturing capability and years of on-site experience in China, GE is well-positioned to not only understand the demands of the regional players but also cater to their needs in a quicker and more efficient manner. All converters will be manufactured in GE’s factory located in Shanghai, which aptly demonstrates GE’s commitment of being “In China, For China.” “With GE’s proven technology and a thorough understanding of the needs and requirements of the regional players in the industry, we are capable of providing the right solutions that meet our Chinese customers’ requirements,” said Francesco Falco, chief commercial officer, GE’s Power Conversion business. “We are confident that GE’s local presence and reliable solution will provide our customers with considerable value.” In addition to the deal, GE’s Grid Solutions business, a sub-business of GE Energy Connections, can offer an optimized solution for smooth grid integration. Together, GE Energy Connections is well-positioned to help meet local energy demands by managing electricity from generation to grid integration.