Climate
The 2.5xl brings increased wind capacity to Europe
Europe has historically been a world leader in the development of renewable energy projects — and GE is helping to meet demand for wind energy in the region. Following the 2008 launch of the 2.5xl wind turbine in Europe, GE Energy has received more than one gigawatt worth of commitments for the turbine over the next year and a half. That investment represents enough wind-generated electricity to meet the needs of more than one million European households.
“We’re very pleased that our 2.5xl technology is helping Europe expand its wind power capacity,” said Victor Abate, vice president, Renewables for GE Energy. “Wind energy is expected to be a major contributor in achieving the European Union’s target to have 20 percent of its energy supply come from renewable sources by 2020, and we are committed to supporting that effort.”
To meet the growing demands of Europe’s wind power industry, GE Energy is making advancements to its wind turbine manufacturing facility in Salzbergen, Germany. Along with greater manufacturing capacity, the Salzbergen expansion will increase GE’s European training and service resources, creating more than 160 jobs.
Recent orders for the 2.5xl include a contract to supply 12 of the machines for Wind Farm Serra in southern Italy. This project will not only mark the debut of GE 2.5xl technology in Italy — it will also take the country a step closer to meeting its goal of becoming one of Europe’s leading producers of wind energy.
