Partnership to promote American wind turbines chain development

Under this MOU the organizations have agreed to:

– Support development of the North American wind energy manufacturing supply chain.

– Provide wind energy market information to manufacturers looking to transition into the North American wind energy market.

– Equip the North American wind energy industry with the manufacturing and supply chain knowledge of the VDMA in order to effectively produce products and innovate for the future.

– Connect manufacturers’ capabilities and expertise with wind energy industry manufacturing needs.

– Support industry events which are in the strategic interest of AWEA and VDMA members.

"This is a great marriage of two strong wind power nations and organizations," said AWEA CEO Denise Bode. "The timing couldn’t be better as we celebrate America’s growing wind power manufacturing supply chain here in America’s new manufacturing heartland of the Southeast."

"We welcome the cooperation between AWEA and VDMA Power Systems because the American market is of great importance for German manufacturers and suppliers due to its strong potential," said Andreas Nauen, CEO Repower Systems SE and chairman of the wind farm industry within VDMA.

"Wind energy is one of the most important renewable energies in the worldwide future energy mix," Thorsten Herdan, managing director VDMA Power Systems. "Therefore, an exchange of view between the leading ‘wind nations’ such as the USA and Germany concerning the further development of the markets, the technologies and the necessary industrialization of this branch is of utmost importance. We are looking forward to an intensified dialogue between manufacturers and suppliers of both countries and are confident that both sides will benefit from this intensive exchange of views."

The VDMA (German Engineering Federation) represents over 3,100 member companies, is one of the world’s most important industrial associations and the largest network in Europe for the Engineering industry. The Wind Energy Suppliers Industry Working Group is the network for the wind power industry within VDMA and covers the entire value chain of this industry, from plant manufacturers to component suppliers. VDMA Power Systems support the new trade fair WindEnergy Hamburg, which will take place for the first time from 23 to 26 September 2014. The German wind capital Hamburg offers a perfect infrastructure in order to expand an international wind fair for the European market.

AWEA is the national trade association for America’s wind power industry, representing project developers, equipment suppliers, services providers, parts manufacturers, utilities, researchers, and others involved in wind power—one of the world’s fastest growing energy industries. AWEA’s WINDPOWER 2012 Conference & Exhibition, the world’s largest annual wind energy event, has brought attendees from some 60 countries to Atlanta, where the latest industry supply-chain technology is being showcased.

The MOU was signed as a part of WINDPOWER 2012. For more information on WINDPOWER 2012, go to www.windpowerexpo.org.