Siemens awarded one of its largest wind turbine orders by FPL Energy

Siemens Energy awarded one of its largest wind turbine orders ever. FPL Energy has ordered 218 Siemens wind turbines to be installed at several wind farms across the U.S. for delivery in 2009. The Florida-based energy provider is the largest operator of wind farms in the United States with 56 projects in 16 states currently in operation. Siemens will deliver to FPL Energy 218 of its 2.3-MW wind turbines in 2009 with a total capacity of approximately 500 MW ? enough to provide clean power to approximately 150,000 households. Together with this order, Siemens has received USD2.4 billion in wind turbine orders in the U.S. to date this fiscal year.

“This order is evidence of the tremendous growth that Siemens Energy is experiencing in the wind energy business,” stated Rene Umlauft, CEO of the Siemens Renewable Energy Division. “FPL Energy is a very important customer, and we are pleased that they have chosen us once again to supply our high-quality wind turbines for their projects.” In 2006 and 2007, Siemens installed wind turbines with a combined capacity of 600 MW for FPL Energy wind farms in Texas, Minnesota and North Dakota.

The scope of supply consists of delivery, technical field assistance and commissioning of 218 of Siemens’ SWT-2.3-93 wind turbines. The blades for the units will be manufactured at the new production facility in Iowa, which was opened in 2007. To support the growth in the world’s largest market for clean wind power, Siemens will expand this factory, located in the town of Fort Madison. “This expansion will double our production capacity in Iowa and will create more than 200 new green collar jobs in the U.S.,” added Umlauft.

“With growing concern about greenhouse gas emissions and volatile fossil fuel prices, wind power is an emission-free power source that should play a greater role in helping our nation meet its energy needs,” said Mitch Davidson, president of FPL Energy. “As the leading U.S. developer of wind power, it is important for FPL Energy to secure reliable sources of wind turbines for use in projects we are developing today and into the future.”