AMSC will begin shipping core electrical components for Sinovel’s SL1500 1.5 MW wind turbines in early 2011. Shipments under the new contract will span a period of 30 months.

AMSC is currently shipping 1.5 MW wind turbine core electrical components under a multi-year contract that extends through early 2011.

Greg Yurek, Founder and CEO of AMSC, says: “Since starting up production in 2006, Sinovel has grown more rapidly than any wind turbine manufacturer in the world. This new order will support Sinovel’s continued production of SL1500s.

“At the same time, Sinovel plans to increase production of its 3 MW wind turbines, which are installed and operating in China’s first offshore wind farm and also being marketed for onshore applications.

“In addition, Sinovel expects to install its 5 MW prototype by the end of 2010. These higher power systems, which Sinovel developed utilising AMSC Windtec™ designs, are also equipped with AMSC’s power electronics,” Yurek adds.

According to a March 2010 report from MAKE Consulting, China installed more than 13 GW of wind power in 2009. MAKE expects that China will increase its total amount of grid-connected wind power from approximately 19 GW at the end of 2009 to approximately 130 GW by the end of 2015.

Wind turbine core electrical components

AMSC’s core electrical components include the company’s proprietary PowerModule™ PM3000W power converter and enable reliable, high-performance wind turbine operation by controlling power flows, regulating voltage, monitoring system performance and controlling the pitch of wind turbine blades to maximise efficiency, AMSC says.