“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games looks set to be largely powered by German wind turbines with China's Goldwind landing a contract to supply the games with 33 Vensys 1.5 MW machines, which it makes under a licensing agreement with German Vensys. The deal follows an agreement made earlier this year between the municipality of Qingdao and Dongfang Steam Turbine Works, the Chinese partner of Germany's Repower, to install five Repower 5 MW machines offshore near the Olympic sailing events (“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, February 2006). Goldwind secured its 49.5 MW contract after beating rival bids from global turbine majors GE Energy and Nordex, as well as China's Beizhong Steam Turbine Generator Company and Dongfang Electrical Machinery Company. The turbines will go up at the Beijing Guanting site, 80 kilometres outside the Chinese capital, and are scheduled to be online by the end of 2007. The developer, Beijing Energy Investment Company, will operate the plant, aiming to meet 40% of the Olympics' electricity demand. The deal is a "major boost" for Vensys, says the company's Stefan Joeckel. So far Vensys has installed just four of its direct-drive turbines, all rated at 1.2 MW (“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, February 2006). One is in Saarland, Germany, one in Nova Scotia, Canada, and two in China. A further three 1.5 MW units are being installed in Canada in November, adds Joeckel. Meanwhile, a Spanish factory for Vensys turbines will start production of the turbines under licence in the new year (“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, July 2006). The Olympics will provide a "world class showcase" for the turbines, says Joeckel.