Vestas to establish a new research centre in the USA
Press release from
Vestas Wind Systems A/S
Randers, 22 November 2007
Press release No. 22/2007
Vestas to establish a new research centre in the USA
As part of the Vestas goal to maintain and extend its position as the leader
within modern energy, Vestas Technology R&D is about to establish a new research
and development centre in the USA.
The research centre will be operational already from 2009, and will, when fully
established in 2010, employ up to 80 people.
“Today, Vestas is a technology enterprise. If we want to be market leaders, we
have to be present and drive the development, where the market is. And that is
amongst other places in the US,” says Finn Strøm Madsen, President of Vestas
Technology R&D.
This decision is a direct continuation of Vestas' establishment and expansion of
its R&D activities in Singapore, India and the creation of the world's largest
wind power research centre in Aarhus, Denmark.
“With the establishment of another centre - this time in the US - we have taken
a significant step towards Vestas' global, long-term dedication to technology
and research,” says Finn Strøm Madsen. As a direct consequence, a restructuring
of the global Technology R&D organisation has taken place, making Research an
independent unit.
Location to be decided
”We have not yet decided where in the US the centre is to be located. But we
primarily investigate options close to the large and recognized universities,”
says Finn Strøm Madsen, who has great expectations for the new centre.
”It is crucial for us to be able to attract the best talents globally and, at
the same time, to take part in the technological development in cooperation with
some of the world's leading universities. Being located close to a university
will therefore be our first priority,” says Finn Strøm Madsen.
Wind energy is experiencing significant growth in all of North America. During
2006, the capacity of wind power was increased by more than 30 per cent, to
approx 12,000 MW, in USA alone, and the American energy authorities, Department
of Energy, have recently called for large public investments in sustainable
energy in the USA.
So far, Vestas has installed more than 9,300 wind turbines in the USA.
Please address any questions regarding the establishment of the new research and
development centre in the USA to Finn Strøm Madsen, President of Vestas
Technology R&D, telephone +45 9730 0000.
Yours sincerely
Vestas Wind Systems A/S
Finn Strøm Madsen
President, Technology R&D
Vestas - No. 1 in Modern Energy
Wind power is a renewable, predictable and clean energy resource. It has a fast
ramp-up and offers the energy independence demanded by some of world's largest
and fastest growing economies. This is why Vestas calls wind power Modern
Energy.
With a 28 per cent market share in 2006, Vestas is the world leader in
delivering Modern Energy. Vestas has already installed over 33,500 wind turbines
in 63 countries and on five continents and it is installing a new turbine every
five hours. In fact, Vestas turbines generate more than 50 million MWh a year or
enough power to supply millions of households. During the last 25 years, Vestas
has improved the output of its turbines 100 times and is still continuously
improving turbine effectiveness. This is why Vestas is No.1 in Modern Energy.
