GE to supply wind turbines

GE Energy has signed an agreement to supply up to 101 of its 2.5xl wind turbines to CEZ Romania for Cogealac, the second phase of the Fantanele wind project.

When both phases are completed, they will create the largest onshore wind farm in Europe. CEZ Romania is part of CEZ Group, the largest utility in central Europe.

In October 2008, GE announced that it was supplying 139 2.5xl wind turbines for Fantanele, the first phase of the project, and construction of that phase is already under way. When the second phase is completed in 2011, the site will have a total capacity of 600MW of wind power - enough to meet the requirements of more than 400,000 homes.

The Romanian government has created legislation that is favourable to the development of renewable-energy resources, granting significant incentives for wind farms and other renewable-energy projects through 2015. This has encouraged investors and developers to pursue projects in the country.

The Fantanele and Cogealac projects are located in Dobrogea in Constanta County, Romania, which has some of the strongest wind-power potential in the country.