“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç

Korea is quickly expanding its profile on the wind power stage. Shipbuilding giant Hyundai Heavy Industries (HHI) and industrial conglomerate Hyosung are leading a consortium to manufacture turbines and develop wind plant. HHI is constructing a wind turbine factory in Gunsan City, on Korea's western coast, due for completion in February. HHI is partnering with Hyosung to produce wind turbines and recently obtained a licence from Canadian wind turbine manufacturer AAER to manufacture a 1.65 MW model. Stepping up their technology, the Korean firms hope to install about 100, 2 MW onshore and offshore turbines across the country by 2012. Korea Southern Power will oversee power distribution. HHI, whose mainstay shipbuilding business has recently suffered a plummet in new orders and is threatened by Chinese competitors offering lower prices, hopes to gain experience in the Korean wind power market before a push into overseas markets. Meantime, fellow shipbuilding giant Samsung Heavy Industries is also entering the wind power market with plans for a large scale onshore wind turbine, according to British transmission engineering consultancy Romax Technology, which is assisting in development. No turbine size was disclosed and Samsung declines to comment.