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
