TPI strikes US blade supply deal with Gamesa

UNITED STATES: TPI Composites has signed a long-term agreement with Gamesa for the supply of blades for its G114-2MW turbines in the US and Mexico.

by Patrick Smith 20 February 2014

TPI will manufacture the blades for the G114 turbine

The blades will be manufactured at TPI's factory in Juarez, Mexico, near the US border.

While the blades will largely be used on Gamesa's projects in the US and Mexico, they will also be exported to "other emerging markets", TPI said.

Recent "strong orders" for the G114 turbine in the US spurred the Spanish manufacturer to strike the deal.

TPI said that it has started to rehire 600 staff that used to work at the factory when it was operated by VienTek, a joint venture between Mitsubishi and TPI.

The plant and joint venture was wound up in 2012, but TPI announced in January that it would reopen the facility.

The prototype of the low-wind G114 was installed in Spain in November, and Gamesa has won a number of deals to supply the turbine in the US.

In January, Gamesa signed a framework agreement with EDP Renovaveis for the supply of G114 turbines with a capacity of up to 450MW in the US over the next three years.