Goldwind inaugurates factory in Brazil’s Bahia, 1st outside China

China's Goldwind Science & Technology Co Ltd (SHE:002202) has inaugurated a factory in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia that will be able to manufacture up to 150 wind turbines a year.

The facility, the company’s first outside of China, is located in the municipality of Camacari at the site of a former General Electric (GE) factory. According to a press statement from the state government, the group expects to invest BRL 100 million (USD 18.2m/EUR 16.3m) in the project.

Goldwind plans to fabricate equipment with capacities ranging from 5.3 MW to 7.5 MW in Bahia. At present, the wind turbines made in Brazil have a maximum capacity of a little over 6 MW, the local government noted.

The new plant will primarily supply the domestic market but will also be able to export equipment to other destinations in South America through the Port of Bahia.

The Chinese company also plans to create a wind component supplier park, consisting of at least six sector players. This includes China's Sinoma, which previously signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to set up a USD-20-million (EUR 17.9m) wind blade production unit, and Thyssenkrupp of Germany, currently negotiating an investment of more than BRL 300 million.

With the new facility, Goldwind is expected to capture a 25% to 30% share of the Brazilian wind turbine market.

(BRL 1.0 = USD 0.182/EUR 0.163)

(USD 1.0 = EUR 0.896)

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