American Superconductor Corporation is moving into the rapidly-growing offshore wind turbine market through the expansion of an existing alliance with South Korea’s Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI).
The two firms have announced plans to develop jointly a 5 MW wind turbine model for the offshore industry. Volume production of the new unit is expected to start by the end of 2011.
American Superconductor and HHI have been cooperating in the wind industry since 2008, when the US firm licensed its 1.65 and 2 MW wind turbine models to HHI. This arrangement will be expanded to allow HHI to market, manufacture and sell the 5 MW model globally.
HHI will buy the power electronic components for the 5 MW wind turbine from American Superconductor.
“With sales of our 1.65 MW wind turbines increasing according to plan and production of our 2 MW wind turbine set to begin, we are ready to add another advanced system to our renewable energy portfolio,” said Keh-Sik Min, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of HHI. “While we expect our 1.65 and 2 MW wind turbines to be our onshore workhorses, the global offshore wind market holds tremendous growth potential for HHI.”
“Within a two-year period, HHI has formed a new wind energy division and will have brought two high-performance, megawatt-scale wind turbines to market – a feat few have accomplished in the industry,” said American Superconductor CEO Greg Yurek. “HHI now aims to establish a leadership position in the offshore wind turbine market by combining AMSC Windtec’s leading engineering expertise with its own manufacturing experience and its extensive offshore development capabilities.”
