AMSC to supply turbine controls

American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has received an initial order for wind turbine electrical control systems from China’s Shenyang Blower Works (SBW) worth approximately $70m (£44m).

The systems will be deployed in the 2MW doubly fed induction wind turbines that were co-developed with AMSC Windtec, a wholly owned subsidiary of AMSC.

This is the largest initial electrical control system order that AMSC has received to date from any wind turbine customer.

Founded in 1934 and based in Shenyang, China, SBW is a large state-owned enterprise that provides a range of industrial equipment including large-scale compressors, blowers, fans, heat exchangers and petrochemical pumps. The company has more than 5,700 employees and approximately $1.4bn in annual sales.

SBW plans to erect its first 2MW wind turbine in March 2010 and will be the fourth AMSC customer to enter volume production of advanced wind turbines in China.

AMSC expects to begin shipping the electrical control systems to SBW in the second half of 2010 and complete shipments in the first half of 2013.

AMSC Windtec co-developed the 2MW doubly fed induction wind turbine with SBW under a contract signed in late 2008. Under the terms of the agreement, SBW has the right to sell the 2MW wind turbines globally.

AMSC’s wind turbine electrical control systems and core electrical components include the company’s proprietary PowerModule power converters, pitch and yaw converters, SCADA systems and other power electronics. They control power flows, regulating voltage and monitor system performance, in order to control the pitch of wind turbine blades and the yaw of the turbines to maximise efficiency.