GE unveils turbine for wind energy in India

Multinational General Electric (GE) Friday unveiled a low-speed turbine to generate wind energy for meeting India's unmet power needs.

"The new turbine (1.7-103) has been developed and engineered specifically for India's low-wind speed conditions. A 100MW wind farm powered by the new version of turbines can produce electricity that can light up 413,000 homes annually," GE South Asia chief executive Banmali Agarwala said in a statement here.

Renewables accounts for five percent of the country's energy mix by production and 12 percent by installed capacity.

The US-based global power major has already installed 22,000 wind turbines worldwide using its evolutionary technology platform.

"The new wind turbine is a testament to our commitment to energising India and catering to its low wind speed environment. The offering also signifies our effort to provide localised solutions with reliability and high performance standards," Agarwala said on the occasion.

The cost of wind power is closer to grid parity and technology advancement is making its generation more predictable.

With about 5,300 technologists, GE's research centres in Bangalore, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Chennai are developing technologies for domestic and overseas wind farm operators.

"The turbine's 103-metre rotor will help delivery high-efficiency output and attractive project economics," Agrawala noted.

With 13 manufacturing facilities across the country and 13,000 employees, the company's 112-year-old Indian subsidiary provides products and solutions in energy, healthcare, infrastructure and financial services to improve the quality of life in the sub-continent.

GE's power business unit works in all areas of energy sector, including renewable resources such as wind and solar, biogas and alternative fuels besides coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy.