Wind Energy

Goldwind’s first wind power project in Australia

Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd. ("Goldwind" or the "Group", SZ Stock Code: 002202, HK Stock Code: 2208), a leading manufacturer of wind turbines and major provider of comprehensive wind energy solutions in China, has signed connection agreements with Powercor Australia to connect 13 Goldwind 1.5 MW wind turbines to the Australian grid. The wind turbines will be located at Mortons Lane Wind Farm in Victoria’s western district. This significant step demonstrates that Goldwind’s state of the art Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) technology satisfies strict Australian grid codes.

Local network operator Powercor Australia performed the assessments required for grid connection.

"Mortons Lane is Goldwind’s first wind power project in Australia. We’re looking forward to providing more Australian customers with Goldwind’s grid-friendly PMDD wind turbines that feature high reliability and power generation efficiency," said John Titchen, Managing Director of Goldwind Australia.

The Goldwind’s PMDD wind turbine has a full power converter that provides continuous, stable performance allowing the turbine to operate in a variety of network conditions including the low capacity networks of western Victoria. Goldwind’s low voltage ride through (LVRT) capability ensures connectivity to the grid despite grid disturbances.

Construction commenced at Mortons Lane Wind Farm in October 2011. The project will include 13 Goldwind GW82/1500 wind turbines (82 m rotor diameter and rated capacity of 1500 kW), with an annual generating capacity of up to 66.7GWh of renewably generated electricity. The turbines are scheduled for installation in February 2012.

Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co., Ltd. (Goldwind) is the second largest manufacturer of wind turbines in China, and the 4th largest globally. With strong R&D capabilities, the company is the world’s largest manufacturer of Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) wind turbines, the industry’s next generation technology. Goldwind is listed on both the Shenzhen Stock Exchange (stock code: 002202) and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (stock code: 2208).

As of September 30, 2011, Goldwind’s accumulated sales capacity of wind turbine reached over 10 GW, equivalent to 8 million tons of coal saved per year, 19.95 million tons of carbon emissions reduced per year, or 10.93 million cubic meters of newly planted forest.

CitiPower & Powercor Australia is a combined electricity distribution services company. The group comprises of two electricity distribution networks, Citipower and Powercor Australia, which are operated under a single corporate structure.

Powercor Australia is Victoria’s largest electricity distributor, which supplies electricity to regional and rural centres in central and western Victoria, and Melbourne’s outer western suburbs. Powercor services approximately 700,000 distribution customers, and operates successful non-regulated businesses. CitiPower supplies electricity to more than 310,000 distribution customers in Melbourne’s CBD and inner suburbs.

By José Santamarta, www.goldwindglobal.com