EDP Renewables North America LLC (EDPR NA) has selected GE (NYSE: GE) to service its entire fleet of 402 1.5-megawatt (MW) GE wind turbines.
* Three-year Comprehensive Agreement is One of GE’s Largest Wind Service Contracts to Date
* New Service Contracts Account for Nearly 20 Percent of GE’s Global Installed Base of Wind Turbines in Past 12 Months
CHENECTADY, N.Y.
The three- year operations and maintenance (O&M) agreement includes several of GE’s latest high-value service offerings and is one of the company’s largest service contracts to date for wind turbines.
The comprehensive agreement has been customized to meet the unique needs of EDPR NA’s five GE wind farms that span three states in the Midwestern United States. The new service contracts comprise routine O&M services, production-based availability guarantees and state-of-the-art monitoring and control solutions. In addition, contracts to boost power production and spare parts agreements were signed with EDPR NA.
“We conducted a very detailed RFQ process for the O&M services, and after significant review and analysis we believe this agreement gives EDPR NA the highest value along with the most comprehensive support available for our world-class facilities,” said Bryan Hayes, chief assets operation officer for EDPR NA “GE’s service solutions will allow us to meet our goals of increasing the reliability, profitability and performance of our wind fleet.”
Service is a strong and growing part of GE’s renewable energy business. The EDPR NA agreement is the second fleet-wide, wind-turbine service agreement GE has recently announced and one of many new service contracts and contract extensions that GE has signed over the past year. Contracts for more than 3,300 wind turbines, representing 20 percent of GE’s total installed base, have been signed over the past 12 months alone. GE’s 1.5-MW machine is the most widely deployed wind turbine in the world, with more than 16,500 units installed globally.
“We see this fleet-wide agreement as a validation of GE’s strategy to align with our customers’ goals to increase power production and revenues from installed base units.” said Diarmaid Mulholland, general manager of wind services for GE Power & Water. “GE has more than doubled our investment in services research and development in both 2010 and 2011 to provide a world-class portfolio of services. It is a major differentiator for us versus other providers and a key resource for our customers.”
GE’s wind service solutions incorporate the company’s advanced technology, global resources and service facilities and a network of skilled, highly trained local technicians who are closely connected to GE’s engineering organization. GE service agreements also give customers access to GE’s suite of turbine upgrades, which are based on new product evolutions and in-depth product knowledge.
About GE
GE (NYSE: GE) is an advanced technology, services and finance company taking on the world’s toughest challenges. Dedicated to innovation in energy, health, transportation and infrastructure, GE operates in more than 100 countries and employs about 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company’s Web site at www.ge.com.
GE also serves the energy sector by providing technology and service solutions that are based on a commitment to quality and innovation. The company continues to invest in new technology solutions and grow through strategic acquisitions to strengthen its local presence and better serve customers around the world. The businesses that comprise GE Energy—GE Power & Water, GE Energy Management and GE Oil & Gas—work together with more than 100,000 global employees and 2010 revenues of $38 billion, to provide integrated product and service solutions in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; as well as other alternative fuels and new grid modernization technologies to meet 21st century energy needs.
About EDP Renewables North America
EDP Renewables North America LLC, formerly known as Horizon Wind Energy in the United States, develops, constructs, owns and operates wind farms throughout North America. Based in Houston, Texas, with over 15 offices and 28 wind farms across the United States, the company has developed more than 3,700 MW and operates over 3,500 MW of wind farms. With 300+ employees, EDPR NA’s highly qualified team has a proven capacity to execute projects and achieve goals. EDP Renewables North America LLC is owned by EDP Renewables (EDPR), a global leader in the renewable energy sector that designs, develops, constructs and operates renewable generation facilities.
