Wisconsin Fabricator Earns Wind Tower Contract

March 21, 2011
Broadwind to build 70 turbine towers for Goldwind project

Goldwind USA Inc., the domestic arm of China’s Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Co. Ltd., placed an order with Broadwind Energy Inc. to fabricate and deliver approximately 70 wind turbine towers for its Shady Oaks project in Lee County, Ill. Broadwind’s plant in Manitowoc, Wis., will undertake the project, which is due to begin construction this year.

The Shady Oaks project is partnership of Goldwind USA and Mainstream Renewable Power that will build a 106.5-megawatt wind farm west of Chicago, with an estimated cost of $150 million to $200 million and due to be in operation by 2012. The power will be supplied to Commonwealth Edison under a 20-year power purchase agreement.

Goldwind’s parent company, Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology, is one of the world’s largest wind turbine manufacturers, and the Shady Oaks project will be the second U.S. placement of its turbine systems. It has three commercialized turbine designs, 600-kW, 750-kW, and 1,500-kW, the last of which will be the model installed at Shady Oaks.

According to Broadwind Energy, the installation will begin during the second half of 2011. Broadwind has manufactured almost 800 wind towers to date, and was the first U.S. manufacturer to build 100-m towers. It manufactures wind turbine gears as well as wind towers, and also offers remanufacturing of gearboxes and blades, and provides maintenance services.

"While proximity to the project and an ability to generate opportunity for the local wind industry certainly played a role in our decision, experience, high quality and a proven track record of success were key factors in selecting Broadwind as our tower partner for the Shady Oaks project," stated Goldwind USA CEO Tim Rosenzweig.

"We are delighted with Goldwind's decision to select Broadwind to produce towers for its first utility-scale project in the Americas," stated Broadwind Energy president and CEO Peter C. Duprey. "Flexibility, quality and customer focus have been a foundation of our tower business, which has enabled us to work with a diverse set of domestic and international customers."