Offshore wind technology center launched in USA

Gamesa Technology Corp., a global wind energy leader, and the shipbuilding operations of Northrop Grumman Corp., America’s largest shipbuilder, launched the Offshore Wind Technology Center to jointly develop the next generation of offshore wind systems that will be deployed in the United States and around the world. Plans call for the development of North America’s first offshore wind turbines by late next year.
 
The opening of the center builds on the alliance the two companies formed in October to cooperate on the launch of Gamesa’s first G11X-5.0 MW offshore prototype in the United States, using Gamesa's multi-megawatt technology and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding’s broad experience in challenging marine environments. Since then, Gamesa and Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding have put in place a team of nearly 50 engineers, focusing on the development of Gamesa’s G11X-5.0 MW offshore prototype in the United States. The team will oversee the design and development of the wind turbine and testing of the prototypes. The team’s immediate goal is to install the first two Gamesa G11X-5.0 MW offshore prototypes - one onshore and one offshore for comprehensive validation testing - by the fourth quarter of 2012.