July 2015

GRI Renewable Industries, the industrial wind division of Gonvarri Steel Industries, is in active negotiations with the Economic Development Corporation of Amarillo (AEDC) Texas regarding its proposed construction of a facility to manufacture wind towers in the U.S.

On June 16th, the AEDC board of directors approved a formal agreement submitted by GRI, that outlined the parameters and scope of the project Clearance from local taxing authorities is expected by the middle of this month.

The proposed project is expected to employ, approximately 300 people over time and will be sufficient in capacity to supply the U.S. market with approximately 400 wind towers per year.

The facility is expected to be fully operational in late 2016 with the aim of providing wind towers to the U.S. market, thereby contributing to the robust development of renewable energy in the country.

“With this new factory in the U.S. market, GRI will utilize its experience and know-how as a leading global supplier of wind towers,” said Javier Imaz, CEO of GRI. “We initially considered locations in several states as a part of our business strategy to serve the U.S. wind industry. Our decision to select Amarillo included key factors such as the pro- business environment in the state of Texas, Amarillo’s favorable geographical location, and good workforce as well as a package of state and local incentives.”

 — Source: GRI Renewable Industries

Janicki Industries has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Global Fiberglass Solutions, Inc. (GFSI) for fiberglass recycling and developing manufacturing technologies and processes. Together Janicki and GFSI will collaborate to successfully advance and develop products with a high content of recycled fiberglass materials. They will utilize these materials in infrastructural and architectural markets.

To implement this partnership, GFSI and Janicki will identify market and product potentials for recycled materials and formulate specific material properties for these applications. One of the initial areas of focus will be large-scale noise barriers for highways fabricated in part from decommissioned utility scale wind blades.

 “Recently, while touring a wind blade factory, I asked myself what happens when these 15-to 25-ton behemoths reach the end of their design life,” said Andy Bridge, vice president of industrial markets for Janicki Industries. “GFSI has a vision and the technology to reclaim fiberglass, and we are excited to develop market-based products and large-scale manufacturing processes customized for the material properties. We can grow our products and services for customers and at the same time reduce waste by recycling fiberglass materials.”

GFSI and its technical partner, Washington State University, have successfully manufactured a variety of composite products with fiberglass material taken from decommissioned wind blades. Testing conducted for the manufactured products showed overall superior mechanical and physical properties suitable for a whole range of green manufacturing applications.

“Partnering with an industry leader such as Janicki Industries can take GFSI’s patented fiberglass recycling process to a whole new level of manufacturing sustainable high-grade products,” said Don Lilly, CEO of Global Fiberglass Solutions.

— Source: Janicki Industries

Gamesa officially inaugurated its expanded nacelle assembly factory in Camaçari, Brazil in June, from which it will make all the 2.0 – 2.5MW platform turbines earmarked for the Brazilian market. The facility’s inauguration ceremony was presided by the governor of Bahia, Rui Costa dos Santos, and the mayor of Camaçari, Ademar Delgado. The executives attending on behalf of Gamesa included Ignacio Martín, chairman and CEO; Xabier Etxeberria, business CEO; José Antonio Miranda, CEO in Latin America; and Edgard Corrochano, managing director in Brazil; among others.

In wake of this expansion work, up and running since September 2014, the factory’s productive capacity has increased to 640 MW. The factory has been equipped with a multi-model production line. It currently produces nacelles for the G97-2.0MW turbine and, beginning in January 2016, it will manufacture the G114-2.0MW — a turbine that reduces energy costs by 10 percent. Both turbines are part of Gamesa’s 2.0-2.5 MW platform, of which 1,000MW of which have already been installed in Brazil. The growth in Gamesa’s operations in this market will enable it to double its headcount to 570 by the year-end 2015.

“The start-up of this facility evidences our industrial pledge in Brazil and our commitment to developing the country’s wind power and broader manufacturing infrastructure, Martin said during the inauguration ceremony.”

“This expansion reinforces our operations in one of Gamesa’s priority markets. In 2014, Brazil accounted for 22 percent of total megawatts sold. Gamesa is one of the leading OEMs in this market thanks to a business strategy that combines global leadership with local know-how along with a strong commitment to local community development in terms of wealth generation, job creation, and purchases from and alliances with local suppliers.”

Since it established a manufacturing foothold in Brazil in 2011, Gamesa has invested over approximately  $39.2 million in the country, nurturing a competitive local supply chain of over 1,000 suppliers in the process.

During the last four years, the company has installed over 1,000MW and has firm orders for the supply of another 1,500MW in the years to come at projects being developed in the country’s windiest regions. It also services close to 700MW for various customers under O&M agreements.

— Source: Gamesa