Changzheng Electric has again announced progress in its wind turbine project. As questions raised in previous media reports on to the validity of the project linger, the reporter made his way to the Beihai project site for interviews on location.

The first impression of the Beihai wind-power base is made by the three enormous turbine rotor blades, 44 meters in diameter, extending across the open space in front of the company's assembly plant. A senior manager told reporters that these blades belong to the company's first 2.5 megawatt direct-drive wind power prototype. The blades are so large that a manufacturer cannot be found in mainland China. The company therefore spent RMB 1,000,000 for the purchase and transport of imported blades. The blades are not only extremely costly, but the supply is also considerably strained.

To relieve the supply bottleneck and satisfy future demand for wind turbine mass production, the company has set into motion plans to manufacture its own wind turbine blades. An Lansheng, General Manager of Guangxi Yinhe Avantis Wind Power Co., Ltd. (GYAW), which was established specifically for wind power projects, stated that construction has already been completed on a specialized plant, but that production has not yet been launched.

Manufacturing is awaiting the results of intensive quality assurance testing on the company's inverters, transformers and cooling systems. The tests, conducted in South Korea, involve assembling the components to assure a comprehensive evaluation and to ensure high quality. In addition, related suppliers are currently improving and testing motors and main bearings. The Korean testing schedule calls for completion by the end of 2008.


Source: Shanghai Securities News

Date: 14 Oct 2008

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