American Superconductor (AMSC) has received more than $3 million in orders for its wind turbine core electrical components and systems from two AMSC Windtec customers: China’s CSR Zhuzhou Electric Locomotive Research Institute (ZELRI) and Canada’s AAER, Inc. AMSC’s electrical systems include the company’s PowerModule power converter and enable reliable, high-performance wind turbine operation by controlling power flows, regulating voltage, monitoring system performance and controlling the pitch of wind turbine blades to maximize efficiency.
AMSC received its initial order from ZELRI for electrical systems for 10 wind turbines in September 2007. ZELRI has now placed an order for electrical systems for 20 additional wind turbines. ZELRI recently began testing a prototype WT1650 wind turbine at a location south of Changsha, China. The wind turbine successfully passed trial operation after being connected to the grid in November 2007, just 10 months after ZELRI engaged AMSC Windtec. ZELRI expects to complete prototype testing and begin shipping wind turbines to customers in mid 2008. The company expects to manufacture more than 100 WT1650 wind turbines in 2009.
AAER recently ordered 10 electrical systems from AMSC for its first 1.5-MW wind turbines. AAER plans to begin manufacturing these turbines in 2008.AAER plans to manufacture, sell and commission those wind turbines in Canada, the United States, Mexico, France and the United Kingdom.