AMSC wins wind turbine electrical system contract

American Superconductor Corporation, a global energy technologies company, has received an initial order for 17 sets of full wind turbine electrical systems from Hyundai Heavy Industries Co.

Based in Ulsan, South Korea, HHI is the world's largest shipbuilder, a global leader in turnkey power plants and offshore projects, and a global supplier of high voltage electrical equipment. HHI will use the electrical systems in 1.65 megawatt (MW) doubly fed induction wind turbines it will be producing under a license from AMSC's wholly owned AMSC Windtec subsidiary.  In addition to the 1.65 MW wind turbine designs, HHI also has a contract with AMSC Windtec for 2 MW doubly fed induction wind turbine designs.  HHI's marketing and sales rights for both wind turbines extend to most countries around the world, including those in North America.

"Leveraging our extensive heavy industry experience as well as AMSC Windtec's proven wind turbine designs and customer support, HHI has been able to produce its first wind turbine less than a year after licensing the design from AMSC Windtec," said Young N. Kim, senior executive vice president and COO, HHI Electro Electric Systems.  "We are pleased to announce that our renewable energy business is now entering an exciting new phase with the commencement of volume wind turbine production for the global market."

HHI installed and commissioned its first reference 1.65 MW wind turbine near its manufacturing facility in Ulsan, South Korea in June 2009.  The company expects to receive Germanischer Lloyd certification soon, and plans to begin shipping wind turbines to customers by the end of 2009.