Goldwind mines South America

 State-owned Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology Company or Goldwind has gone to Chile.

Goldwind, one of the world’s top five wind turbine manufacturers, has signed an agreement to develop a 70-megawatt (MW) wind farm in this South American nation that borders the Pacific Ocean.

The agreement between Goldwind and Chilean global renewable energy developer Mainstream Renewable Power will have the two companies establish a 50/50 joint venture to build the first phase of the Ckani Wind Farm in the Antofagasta region in northern Chile.

Chicago-based Goldwind USA, a Goldwind subsidiary, will supply 47 GW87/1.5MW wind turbines. Prices of Chinese wind turbines are 20-30% lower than those of their foreign counterparts in the world market.

The Ckani wind farm has a total potential capacity of 240 MW and has been in development by Mainstream since 2009. Construction on the first 70MW phase is expected to start by the end of this year.

"We are delighted to see such tremendous progress in a short period of time," said Wang Haibo, executive vice president of Goldwind and CEO of Goldwind International.

Mainstream Chief Executive Eddie O'Connor also described the wind farm in Chile as "an exciting project" with Goldwind.

With over 80 wind turbine makers, China is able to produce 35 wind turbines with a one gigawatt capacity a year if planned production capacities are put into operation. Over the next five years, the Chinese domestic market can only use about 15 turbines in the gigawatt output range per year under the renewable development objectives, according to the China Wind Energy Association (CWEA).

CWEA said Chinese wind turbine makers signed more turbine supply deals with foreign countries in 2011 alone than their total from 2007 to 2010.

Goldwind is based in Urumqi. Its major products include 600 kilowatt, 750 KW, 1.2 MW, 1.5MW Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) and 2.5 MW PMDD series wind turbine sets.