Mitsubishi Power Systems Americas Inc., a subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Group, will begin constructing a $100 million wind nacelle manufacturing plant in Arkansas within the year, significant for being its first nacelle production facility outside of its home country Japan.
Located in Fort Smith, the 200,000-square-foot plant will have an initial production capacity of 600 megawatts, which will be increased afterwards. Mitsubishi also intends to launch longer-blade type turbines that can adapt to low wind-speed applications.
The manufacturing plant is expected to commence operations by 2011 and will employ 330 staff. The plant will mainly focus on creating nacelles, which converts wind energy into electric power. The nacelle is composed of a wind turbine rotor axis, generator, multiplying gearbox, control system and electrical equipment.
“This groundbreaking ceremony marks Mitsubishi’s arrival in Arkansas. This means immediate construction jobs for Fort Smith and the long-term addition of high-quality, renewable-energy jobs. The addition of another world-class company in Arkansas again shows the appeal of both our state and our people,” said Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe.
The state and municipal governments will grant incentive measures, in accordance with the Internal Revenue Service 48C advanced energy project tax credit.
The United States wind energy market has been showing signs of recovery after suffering from a slowdown brought by the economic crisis. In 2009, the Global Wind Energy Council said that the industry broke records with approximately 10,000 MW of new installed capacity, enough to meet the energy demands of more than 2.4 million average households.
This additional capacity boosted the country’s wind plant fleet by 39 percent, bringing the total wind generating capacity to over 35,000 MW.
Currently, the United States wind market holds a five-year average annual growth rate of 39 percent versus 32 percent posted between 2003 and 2008.
Mitsubishi (TYO:
TK
) has been active in the United States wind market since 1987 when it installed its first wind turbine in the country. To date, the company has supplied over 3,500 units of wind turbines to the United States.
