GE Energy completes record year in wind energy sales

Atlanta, GA— GE Energy delivered 1,346 wind turbines worldwide during 2005, completing the year with revenue exceeding $2 billion - more than a 200% increase over 2004’s total - the company reported at the 2006 European Wind Energy Conference & Exhibition.

GE’s 2005 wind revenue also was more than 400% higher than in 2002, GE’s first year of wind operations, underscoring wind energy’s continued growth in global popularity.

“We are seeing an incredible growth in demand for wind turbines as more countries seek to expand their renewable energy production to help reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and improve their energy security,” said Robert Gleitz, who was appointed general manager for GE’s wind business in the spring of 2005.

“For example, in 2006 GE is expanding its line of wind turbines by launching its new multi-megawatt turbine platform in Europe, followed by a similar United States and Asia commercial roll-out in 2008,” Gleitz said.

Some 2005 highlights for GE:

• GE received an order for 33 of its 1.5-megawatt turbines in Tébar, in central Spain. The Las Lomillas wind project is owned by Tébar Eólica, a joint partnership of GENESA (Hidrocantábrico) and Tébar Agricola.
• GE Energy Financial Services acquired several wind farms in Germany, marking GE’s formal entrance into the country’s wind industry. One of the sites, the Alsleben project, will consist of 37 of GE’s 1.5-megawatt units, making it one of Germany’s largest wind farms.
• GE introduced its 1.5 xle wind turbine, as well as the new 2.5 and 3.0-megawatt turbines, at the HusumWind conference in Germany.
• In May, GE hosted a formal inauguration for its Arklow Bank Wind Park in the Irish Sea, the world’s first offshore wind project to commercially deploy turbines over three megawatts. Arklow features 7 of GE’s 3.6-megawatt machines.
• Cefn Croes, the biggest operating wind farm in England and Wales, officially opened. The site features 39 of GE’s 1.5-megawatt turbines and provides 20% of Wales’ wind energy.
• GE 1.5-megawatt turbines were selected for six wind farm sites in the Massif Central region of southern France. The 38 units will generate 57 megawatts, increasing France’s installed wind capacity by nearly 15%.
• In the United States, GE delivered 1,005 wind turbines as the industry enjoyed its most productive year. According to the American Wind Energy Association, the United States industry broke its annual installed capacity record by adding 2,431 megawatts of turbines. GE’s turbines accounted for about 62 percent of the United States total.

“The extension of the federal wind-energy production tax credit in 2005 helped trigger the record-breaking year and provided momentum that will carry over through 2007,” said GE’s Gleitz, noting the company is already accepting orders for 2008.

• In Canada, GE announced an order for 66 of its 1.5-megawatt turbines for the Erie Shores Wind Farm, one of the country’s largest wind power projects. The project is located near the northern shore of Lake Erie in Ontario.
• In India, GE announced it was providing eight 1.5-megawatt turbines for a new project in the village of Radhapuram in the state of Tamilnadu, South India. The wind farm is GE’s second in India.
• And in Japan, GE Energy said it is supplying 34 of its 2.5-megawatt machines for three sites, adding 85 megawatts to the country’s grid.