LM Wind Power has signed a strategic collaboration agreement with Chinese wind turbine manufacturer CSIC (China Shipbuilding Industry Corporation) HZ Windpower to deliver blades for its newly launched H151-5.0MW offshore wind turbine.
The blades will be delivered from LM Wind Power’s plant in Jiangyin. The first sets are expected to be installed by the end of 2016 on an offshore wind farm off Rudong, Jiangsu Province.
The announcement was made at CWP (China Wind Power) 2016 in Beijing at a product launch ceremony where CSIC HZ Windpower received the type certificate for the new offshore turbine.
“It is a great pleasure to support CSIC HZ Windpower, a pioneer and leading player in the development of the offshore wind market in China, and launch their new offshore wind turbine platform,” LM Wind Power’s CEO, Marc de Jong , said.
”This deal strengthens LM Wind Power’s growth in China and emphasizes the importance of highly reliable and efficient blades as a key factor for expanding the growing offshore sector.”
LM Wind Power said that the operation and performance of two prototype turbines with the LM Wind Power blades installed in Rudong paved the way for the long term deal now announced between the two companies.
“Taking advantage of LM Wind Power’s advanced technology, highly reliable manufacturing and long track record in successful offshore blade supply, CSIC HZ Windpower aims to play a leading role in the development of offshore wind in China. We chose LM Wind Power blades because reliability and quality really matter in the offshore sector,” Zhang Haiya, Deputy Director of R&D Center, CSIC HZ Windpower commented.
China is set to invest significantly in offshore wind over the coming years. The 13th five-year plan issued by China’s central government has a target of more than 5GW offshore installation by 2020.
With today’s offshore installations amounting to approximately 1GW, meeting this target requires strong growth and mobilization of key players over the next five years, LM Wind Power said.