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| GE Energy's advanced 2.5xl wind turbine in Italy GE Energy's latest wind turbine technology has been selected to support the expansion of Wind Farm Serre in southern Italy. The project will help Italy move a step closer to meeting its goal of becoming one of the leading producers of wind energy in Europe. According to the European Wind Energy Association, Italy had more than 2,700 megawatts of installed wind capacity by the end of 2007, a 30% increase over the previous year. To help enhance its renewable portfolio, Italy has a set a goal to generate 12,000 megawatts using wind energy by 2020, which could be met as early as 2015 if the present growth rate continues. GE is supplying 12 of its 2.5xl wind turbines for the project, which is expected to be completed by June of 2009. The wind farm's total rated capacity is 30 megawatts with an annual estimated generation of about 74 gigawatt-hours, or enough electricity to meet the annual requirements of 25,000 households. As part of its renewable energy directive, in 2001 the European Commission set a very ambitious target for Italy: at least 25% of the country's gross electricity consumption should come from renewable sources by 2010. At the time, the availability of financial incentives was uncertain, but the subsequent introduction of a green certificate system and other measures to support renewable energy has created more stability in the market. Located near the town of Girifalco in Catanzaro Province, Calabria Region, Wind Farm Serre supports the continued growth of the Italian wind industry, and marks a new level of cooperation between a project developer and the local municipality. Under an agreement with the utility Brulli Energia through its affiliate Parco Eolico Girifalco, the Municipality of Girifalco will receive 50% of the wind farm's gross profits - the first arrangement of its type in Italy. "Wind Farm Serre is the latest example of how Italy is embracing the challenge of meeting its renewable energy targets," said Victor Abate, vice president-renewables for GE Energy. "The project represents significant environmental benefits for the region, allowing the production of electricity with no emission of harmful substances." According to calculations by Brulli Energia, a project of this size could reduce emissions by an estimated 90, 000 tons of CO2, per year, 300 tons of SO2 per year and 260 tons of NOx per year. Although Wind Farm Sere will be the debut of GE's 2.5xl wind turbines in Italy, nearly one gigawatt of this technology has been committed for projects worldwide. With a rotor diameter of 100 meters, the 2.5xl is GE's largest wind turbine available for onshore applications and is designed to meet the immediate requirements of the European Union, where the lack of available land constrains the size of projects. Introduced last year, the 2.5xl is the next evolution of GE Energy's wind turbine fleet and builds on the success of GE's 1.5-megawatt machines, which are among the world's most widely used megawattclass wind turbines with more than 8,600 units in service and more than 125 million operating hours. The machines for Wind Farm Serre will feature GE's advanced grid integration technology, including WindControl, to meet the stability and land availability standards of the Calabria electricity grid. write your comments about the article :: © 2008 Construction News :: home page |