GE expanding Wind Turbine Production 75% annually over next two years -

[JohnWxy]

http://www.ge.com/stories/en/20423.html?category=Product_Business



"GE installed 1,346 turbines in 2005 and plans to ship more than 4,700 turbines over the next two years." Be assured the other wind turbine manufacturers are expanding on a similar scale.

NOte: on an annualized basis (assuming linear growth rate, for simplicity) unless I am wrong, this represents a 75% rate of growth per year. (4700/2= 2350. 2350/1346= 1.7459).

Now if you use the 75% rate of growth that GE is planning on, whats your growth over 5 yrs? I know you "can do the math" but allow me:


IT comes to 16 times the current capacity. In 5 years.

It should also be noted wind turbine installations does NOT take into account that the wind turbines being built now are significantly more productive than the ones installed even 5 yrs ago. So the number of turbines installed will actually not reflect the most accurate estimate of wind power production growth,but it provides an approximation.

[DainBramaged]

1. Wow, wonder what powers this guy?

I trust nothing GE does, nothing. It's taken 40 years to get them to admit culpability in the PCB mess they made of the Hudson river, and their appliances simply suck.

[louis-t]

2. Their cheap ones certainly do.

In my case, the jury is still out on the higher end products. I bought a new home that came with low end washer and dryer, high end stove, fridge, d/w, and micro, all 4 years old. Washer and dryer are garbage. Everything else works great-so far. GE is no worse than any other mega-corporation that pollutes, manipulates, obfuscates, lies, or rips off the public.

[DainBramaged]

4. Yes they are, they OWN NBC, therefore they lie too.

Propaganda for their own purpose.

[pocket]

3. their weapons of mass destruction are top-knotch though

miniguns tested in Somalia

[DainBramaged]

5. Crap, forgot about them

http://www.montysminiguns.com/RealityPage.htm

[Bonhomme Richard]

6. My company is getting into this field.

I'm expanding my product line and we have already spoken to GE and Gamesa about improving one of the components in the Nacelle. This new product will save them some of the energy they are spending "making the electricity". I can't say anymore than that (competitive reasons) but I'm excited about it and the manufacturers want us to pursue it.
I don't know if any of you realize exactly how big these things are because when you see pictures there isn't anything nearby to give you some reference. The Nacelle (that little bullet shaped box behind the blades) is about the size of a decent camper. The gearbox in the nacelle is about the size of a PT Cruiser, and the blade diameter is a football field.
Very near stuff.

[Dead_Parrot]

7. Amerikat took some nice pics...

that give the scale of the turbines: see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=115&topic_id=47457

[skids]

8. Always wondered why they need gears...

If it's going to be that big anyway, wouldn't it just be better to increase the number of
poles on the generator?

[JohnWxy]

9. There is going to be phenomenal growth in wind technology for the

next 25 years. GE's revenues from Wind Turbines for 2005 was 200% greater than for 2004! they are moving aggressively into the international market. They probably will be the big player internationally too.

Look at the specs on their 3.6 MegaWatt turbine. http://www.gepower.com/prod_serv/products/wind_turbines/en/36mw/36mw_specs.htm

Operating Data
3.6
Rated capacity 3,600 kW
Cut-in wind speed 3.5 m/s
Cut-out wind speed 27 m/s
Rated wind speed 14 m/s

Rotor
3.6
Number of blades 3
Rotor diameter 104 m
Swept area 8,495 m2
Rotor speed (variable) 8.5 - 15.3 rpm

Note cut-in wind speed is only 3.5 m/s

and the Cut-Out wind speed is 27 m/s -- that's 55.2 miles an hour. So it keeps operating in 55 mile per hour winds! This is for sea installations.

MOre- GE is developing a Wind Turbine that will generate between 5 to 7 Megawatts of power.

"GE (NYSE: GE), announced it has entered into a $27 million partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) to design a next-generation offshore wind turbine. The power rating of the turbine will be optimized for minimal cost of energy but is expected to be between 5 and 7 Megawatts, making it one of the most powerful wind turbines in the world. The partnership will also help expand the nation's wind energy potential. The research will be conducted at GE's Global Research Center in Niskayuna, NY.