Gamesa, a global technology leader in wind energy, secured contracts to supply 356 MW of its new G97-2.0 MW turbine in deals signed in the second half of 2011, the year of the global launch of this new turbine.
Europe, specifically Spain, accounted for the largest share of orders: 40% of the total, or 71 units of the G97-2.0 MW turbine amounting to 142 MW of capacity.
Chinaaccounted for 28% of orders, with a total of 100 MW, followed closely by the United States, which generated orders for 94 MW (26.4% of the total) in this period. Meanwhile, customers in India ordered 10 MW (2.8%) matching orders from Canada. The Canadian deal marks Gamesa's first contract in the country.
Gamesa began manufacturing this turbine in four regions simultaneously. Factories in Spain, China, India and the US are currently producing the new turbines, following upgrades of existing facilities or plant expansions (in the case of India), to address rising demand from this growth market.
More than 50% of demand in this class of 2.0 MW turbine
Gamesa in late 2010 and early 2011 conducted the global launch of its new G9X-2.0 MW platform, which consists of a 2.0-MW wind turbine equipped with four rotors of varying diameters (80 m, 87 m, 90 m and 97 m) and multiple tower heights, making it the most versatile turbine on the market.
The new platform's launch began with the G97-2.0 MW Class IIIA turbine, tailored for low-wind sites Gamesa expects such locations to drive more than 50% of the demand in the 2.0 MW category. The Gamesa G97-2.0 MW features a swept area 16% larger than that of the current G90 turbine and promises to exceed the existing model's energy output by nearly 14%.
The Gamesa G97-2.0 MW features a new aerodynamic blade tip design and the Gamesa NRS® noise control system, developed to ensure maximum output and minimal noise.
Like the other turbine models in the G9X stable, the new machine offers a series of enhancements (improved power curve and noise levels), along with an updated look, with improvements in the cooling system and a state-of-the-art nacelle design.