Wind farm to be built in the Irish Sea

GE Wind Energy, one of the world's leading wind power companies, and Airtricity, Ireland's largest renewable energy company, plan to develop a 25-megawatt wind farm in the Irish Sea to provide power for the Irish electricity grid, GE reported recently at the European Wind Energy Conference.

The project, to be located about 10 kilometers off the coast of Arklow, Ireland, will feature seven of GE Wind Energy's new, 3.6-megawatt wind turbines. This will be the first offshore application of this technology and the first offshore wind project with turbines above 3-megawatt rated capacity. The project is expected to generate enough electricity to serve approximately 16,000 Irish households.

"We are pleased to be part of a project that will significantly increase the supply of clean energy for Ireland," said Steve Zwolinski, President of GE Wind Energy. "We applaud Ireland's leadership in featuring alternative energy as part of its long-term energy plan."

Eddie O'Connor, Chief Executive of Airtricity, said: "Ireland is 90% dependent on imported energy. Airtricity is working with others in the wind industry to demonstrate that the Arklow project is the first phase in energy self-sufficiency for this country. Teaming with GE, we plan to demonstrate the feasibility of constructing wind farms in the Irish Sea."

Final approval for the Arklow project is expected shortly from the Irish Minister of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources. Installation of the wind turbines in the Irish Sea is proposed to begin this summer. Commercial service is anticipated by the end of the year.

Initially, GE Wind Energy will operate the facility as a demonstration site. Under the terms of the agreement, Airtricity will hold an option to purchase the project after its demonstration is complete, approximately two years after first operation.

The first commercial prototype 3.6-megawatt wind turbine was unveiled by GE during 2002. Installed on land in September 2002 as a test bed, this machine is currently producing power for Spanish energy supplier Iberdrola.

Expressly designed and optimized for offshore applications, the new GE 3.6-megawatt machine is one of the largest wind turbines developed to date, and represents some of the most advanced wind turbine technology available in the world. With its power electronics, variable speed rotor and specially designed offshore enhancements, it is cost-effective, highly reliable and offers ease of installation and maintenance at remote, offshore locations. The new machine features a rotor diameter of 104 meters and a hub height of 73.5 meters.

Airtricity was established in 1997 to develop wind energy in Ireland and abroad, and is currently developing wind farms in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland. As an integrated utility, the company is both a generator and supplier of electricity.

GE Wind Energy, a unit of GE Power Systems, is one of the world's leading wind power companies. It designs and manufactures wind turbines with rated outputs ranging from 900 to 3,600 kW, and offers support services ranging from project development support to operation and maintenance. Worldwide, the company has developed and/or sold over 5,600 wind turbines with a rated capacity exceeding 3,200 megawatts. GE Wind Energy employs more than 1,700 people worldwide, with design/manufacturing/assembly facilities located in Germany, Spain, the USA and the Netherlands.