Gamesa

Bilbao & Madrid, Spain - Gamesa, a global wind power technology company, makes progress on the implementation of its offshore wind market strategy.

The latest milestone is the decision to start the permitting process for the installation of its first offshore prototype, the G128-5.0 MW (50 Hz), at Arinaga Quay in Gran Canary Island. Gamesa expects to begin the installation of this prototype in the second quarter of 2013, with a view to achieving certification in the following months, to permit the installations of the pre-series turbines in an offshore wind farm towards the end of 2013 or early 2014.

Following extensive research to identify suitable sites, Gamesa selected Arinaga on the basis of technical considerations for certification, wind conditions in the region, market performance and customer investment plans and its forecast. This offshore prototype will be the first to be installed in Spain. Gamesa's priority in the offshore market is to achieve product certification in order to guarantee the successful launch, marketing and manufacturing of its offshore platforms in the years ahead.

The site selected boasts optimal conditions for the installation, validation and certification of the prototype: the region has high wind resources (strong trade winds) combined with availability of wind data from meteorological towers. The selected location will also optimise returns on the investment from the prototype

Source: IWR Online, 07 May 2012