Peter Löscher, chief executive officer of Siemens AG, says: “The United States already is and will continue to be one of the world’s fastest growing wind energy markets. We are thus intensifying our commitment to this green technology to further expand our leading global position in this field.”
Construction of the 300,000 ft2 wind turbine nacelle production facility is scheduled to begin in August 2009.
The nacelles to be produced in Kansas will weigh 90 tons and the first nacelle is expected to be shipped in December 2010. All nacelles produced in Hutchinson will be used in Siemen’s 2.3-MW wind turbine product family. Initially, the factory’s planned annual output is approximately 650 nacelles – or 1.5 GW.
“Just two years ago we opened a rotor blade manufacturing facility in Fort Madison, Iowa. By expanding our investment in Kansas, we are strengthening our presence in the USA and, at the same time, we are increasing the proximity to our US customers. This new location will enable us to serve them more rapidly and cost-effectively,” says René Umlauft, CEO of Siemens Energy’s Renewable Energy Division.