Wind energy major Gamesa eyes 5-fold sales rise in 3 yrs

Spanish wind energy major Gamesa today said it wants its India operations to contribute 25% of its total sales by 2014 as it expects the domestic market to more than double in the next few years to 5,000 mw

"Within the first year of our operations (since February 2010), India contributed to 5% of our overall sales last year. And we want to this to touch 25% within the next two-three years. Last year, our India sales stood at Rs 1,000 crore," Gamesa Group Chairman and Chief Executive Jorge Calvet told newsmen here today.

The company, which has the domestic major Suzlon as its main rival, also announced Rs 250 crore investment into a new blade factory in Chennai, which will see its annual output touching around 1,800 mw from 500 mw now, and a tower factory in joint venture with Windar besides an R&D centre in Chennai.

The company currently manufactures only 850-kw turbines, but with the new Chennai plant it will be rolling out 2-mw turbines. Its another focus area will be re-powering, which is upgrading existing low-capacity turbines. Chennai centre will employ over 100 engineers,and will support our global engineering and R&D activities, Calvet said.

Gamesa Wind Turbines India Chairman Ramesh Kymal said, as part of expansion plan, they will be setting up plants in Gujarat besides entering the markets of Maharashtra,Rajasthan, MP, AP, Karnataka and Gujarat.