Co-development agreement signed

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC), an energy technologies company, and Shenyang Blower Works (Group) (SBW), a Chinese industrial equipment manufacturer, signed an agreement today for co-development work that positions SBW as a leading supplier of wind turbines for the Chinese marketplace. The contract was signed today in a ceremony involving the chief executive officers of the two companies at SBW's headquarters in Shenyang.

Under the terms of the agreement, AMSC's wholly owned AMSC Windtec subsidiary will provide SBW with designs for its 2MW doubly fed induction wind turbine.

AMSC will also help SBW localise the supply of all core components for the wind turbines, establish its wind turbine manufacturing line and build and test SBW's first prototype wind turbines. After receiving certification, SBW will manufacture the turbines and sell them primarily into the Chinese market. AMSC will provide the full electrical systems for all of SBW's wind turbines.

The agreement provides SBW with the right to manufacture its 2 MW wind turbines in China and sell the systems globally.  The company plans to have its first prototype turbines installed and commissioned in 2009 and expects to begin series production in 2010.