Alstom's innovative wind turbines proven to be several times more reliable than industry average

The founder of Alstoms wind business, Mr Pep Prats, VP Advanced Technology of Wind Business, is in Australia this week to showcase innovative wind turbine technology that is proving to be several times more reliable than the industry average.

At a series of workshops for the investment sector, Mr Prats will provide in-depth data about the ALSTOM PURE TORQUE wind turbine design, which allows the drive train and particularly the gearbox to last for the entire lifetime of the turbine and require only minimal maintenance. This can slash the costs of repairs, maintenance and replacements for new wind farms being built in Australia and New Zealand.

According to a recent US report, the industry standard for gearbox life is only between 7 and 11 years during the 20-year lifetime of conventional wind turbines.

In the ALSTOM PURE TORQUE design, the shaft and gearbox of the turbine do not support the weight of the rotor and are protected from damaging bending loads, Mr Jeff Cheong, Sales Director Alstom Wind Asia Pacific, explained.

The proven and reliable ALSTOM PURE TORQUE wind turbine technology has been installed throughout Europe during the past three decades and is now being offered for the first time in this region including Australia. Alstom's turbines have been installed at several Japanese wind farms already, as it is durable under typhoon conditions and requires minimal maintenance in remote locations.

With the potential for a carbon price being set next year, investors are preparing to make decisions that will be in play for the next 20 or 30 years. For banks and shareholders the reliability and uptime of turbines has a significant impact on costs and profitability, said Mr Cheong.

According to the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the global annual market in wind power grew 41.5 per cent in 2009. The five-year outlook from GWEC forecasts that global wind power will double between 2010 and 2014.

Future Australian wind farms projects will benefit from Alstoms 30 years of international experience designing and building, installing and servicing the turbine technology. The company sees a promising future in renewable energy and has shifted significant attention to growing its wind business both inside the Eurozone and expanding across the USA, South America, Northern Africa and now the Asia Pacific.

Alstom is a world leader in the power generation industry, with a huge portfolio of technology and resources from which the Australian wind business can grow. With 100 years experience in delivering successful power projects in Australia, Alstom has a strong local presence with 1000 employees and power service workshops in three states.

Press Contacts
Michael Scott Tel. (02) 8870 6065, Mob: 0427 407 719
michael.scott@power.alstom.com
www.alstom.com.au