General Electric (GE) is mulling local manufacturing of wind turbine components that could substantially reduce the cost of equipment for wind energy customers, bring in advanced technology to India as well as create jobs. The firm currently imports complex components such as blades from China; local production would slash cost by 20-30% on certain components ? there will be no import duties.
GE currently operates two assembly plants in Pune and Chennai. The firm had recently announced an initial investment of $50 million towards building a multi-product manufacturing facility ? this would include the manufacturing of components for wind turbine as well. The wind turbine device comprises large blades, towers, electronic control systems and gearboxes among others. An executive from the firm said that there is a ?huge commitment? to growing the wind sector in India from the company?s top leadership. According to the Global Wind Energy Council, India had a capacity of 13,065 mw as of December 2010, 6.7% of the world?s cumulative capacity. India added 2.1 gw in 2010 and as per an independent research, the sector will clock 14% CAGR in capacity installations during FY 2011-14. Overall, wind energy capacity installations worldwide total 194.4 gw; new capacity of 35.8 gw was added in 2010, worth$65 billion.
GE Wind has thus far installed 20 gw plus worldwide while in India, the firm started with installments of 35 mw; it has 135 mw in active orders.
Sanjay Correa, vice-president and managing director of GE?s John F Welch Technology Centre in Bangalore said that India has got a big potential in wind but the products that would sell and be successful in the country won?t be the firm?s standard products. ?We got to build them here; they have to operate under local conditions. Beyond assembling, the most exciting part is the production of wind blades,? he noted. Wind blades are the most complex of the components with its aerodynamic shape being critical to its performance. Correa said the firm would bring the blade technology into the country. However, it may either make it in its own plants or with a supplier.
?Composite fan blade is a very techie part, requiring investment on the technical side and in training of the work force. But we have committed to that. To get the right price to consumers, you can?t be importing parts. Local blade production can happen in a two?year timeframe,? he said. ??
GE, he added, has a vertically integrated wind team in India. The John F Welch Technology Centre can do all the elements of wind turbine ? from electrical engineering to the mechanical side.