Last year started off slow due to the uncertainty caused by the late production tax credit (PTC) extension, but GE says it has secured a cumulative 3.9 GW of firm and unconditional wind turbine supply orders in the U.S. since Jan. 1, 2013 – the date the incentive was revived by Congress. Of these orders, 1.1 GW of GE technology was placed into service in 2013. The remaining 2.8 GW will be commissioned or begin construction by the end of 2015.
GE says it has expanded its customer base to include developers such as Sumitomo and Starwood Energy, which both will be installing 200 MW projects using GE's 1.7-100 wind turbines. Mesquite Creek Wind, jointly developed by Sumitomo and BNB Renewable Energy, is based near Lamesa, Texas, and Starwood Energy's Stephen Ranch wind farm is located in Borden and Lynn counties, Texas. The 1.7-100 was introduced in 2013 and is part of the GE's so-called "brilliant" platform.
"We feel confident that, with our strong backlog of orders, we are strongly positioned for 2014 and 2015," comments Anne McEntee, president and CEO of GE's renewable energy business.
