LM Wind Power, part of GE Renewable Energy business and manufacturer of wind turbine blades, announced recently that it has begun production of wind turbine blades at its new factory in Bergama, Turkey. The new manufacturing facility has a annual capacity of 500 megawatts (MW) and has a flexibility to expand to 1,5 gigawatts (GW). The factory will address the needs of the fast-growing Turkish wind industry. Since 2010, annual new wind installations have continued to increase and sustained growth is predicted with a target of 20 GW by 2023.
Jérôme Pécresse, CEO of GE Renewable Energy said, “GE already operates eight facilities with more than 2000 employees in Turkey – a highly promising market for renewable energy and wind in particular. With LM Wind Power, GE Renewable Energy is integrating blade design and production into our wind turbine business giving us a strong position in the fastest growing segment of power generation.”
He further added, “Last year, the Turkish wind sector reached a cornerstone by having more than 6GW wind power installed. GE is committed to investing long term in the communities where we operate and this facility is an important milestone in our commitment to work with local talent.”