Siemens to Open Wind Turbine Research Center in Boulder, Colorado

Facility will create 50 new green-collar careers 


ORLANDO, Fla., June 3  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Siemens Energy will establish its U.S. wind turbine R&D competence center in Boulder, Colorado. The facility is expected to employ an estimated 50 people and will focus on atmospheric science research, aerodynamic blade design, structural dynamics, wind turbine dispatch prediction and reliability.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO)

Siemens and the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL) also intend to enter into a cooperative research and development agreement (CRADA) for the installation of a Siemens 2.3-MW pilot wind turbine with a 101-meter-rotor at the National Wind Technology Center (NWTC) location south of Boulder. The company will test basic wind turbine characteristics and verify new performance-enhancing features and turbine reliability under severe weather conditions over a minimum period of three years.

"We are very pleased to establish our first wind turbine R&D competence center in Boulder. The proximity of important institutions such as NREL and the NWTC, as well as the support received from the State of Colorado and the City of Boulder, make Boulder the perfect location for a R&D center in the U.S.," said Randy Zwirn, head of Siemens' Energy Sector in the U.S.

"Boulder was pleased to collaborate with the state of Colorado in an effort to bring Siemens to the city of Boulder. This new Siemens wind turbine R&D facility will be a significant new addition to our business community and will support Boulder's strong commitment to environmental sustainability and renewable energy resources," said Boulder City Manager Frank Bruno.

Presently, Siemens has established core competence centers for wind turbine R&D in Copenhagen (Denmark), Aachen (Germany), Delft (Netherlands) and Keele (United Kingdom). In the U.S., Boulder was chosen to leverage potential collaboration efforts with other institutions that are actively engaged in atmospheric research, and wind turbine and associated systems R&D, including NREL, the NWTC, the National Center for Atmospheric Research and the Colorado Renewable Energy Collaborative, a state-funded program including the University of Colorado at Boulder, the Colorado State University and the Colorado School of Mines. This new facility will also enable technology transfer with other Siemens wind turbine R&D centers in Europe.

"By choosing Colorado as the location for their first wind research and development site in the United States, Siemens has shown that they recognize our State is leading the country in renewable energy technology," stated Colorado Congressman Mark Udall. "The creation of these green jobs is good for our economy and our communities and will help set us on a path of greater energy independence. Colorado is fortunate to have Siemens make this investment in our State."

Governor Ritter enthusiastically welcomes Siemens, a global industry leader, to Colorado. "This is another great testament to Colorado's growing New Energy economy. We continue to establish ourselves as a worldwide leader in renewable, sustainable and modern energy," Governor Ritter said. "The arrival of the Siemens U.S. wind turbine research center draws particular attention to the creative and groundbreaking work being done in energy R&D in Colorado right now."

"At Siemens, innovation is one of our core values. Our R&D focus is on developing solutions that are reliable, economical, and with low impact on the environment and climate," stated Zwirn. "This new R&D center will help us further improve the efficiency of turbines, and thus the economics of wind energy projects."

The new Siemens R&D Center is expected to create 12-15 green-collar positions in the first year, followed by 5-10 additional careers every year thereafter, resulting in approximately 50 new positions by 2013. Most employees will be new hires with a PhD or master's degree in the desired disciplines.

The Siemens Energy Sector is the world's leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2007 (ended September 30, based on IFRS), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR20 billion and received new orders totaling around EUR28 billion and posted a profit of EUR1.8 billion. The Energy Sector had a work force of 73,500 at the beginning of fiscal 2008. Further information is available at: http://www.siemens.com/energy.

All figures represent the sum of the nonconsolidated figures for the Power Generation and Power Transmission and Distribution Groups and for the Oil and Gas activities of the Industrial Solutions and Services Group. 

DATASOURCE: Siemens



CONTACT: Siemens: Monika Wood, Press Relations, [phone],

; City of Boulder: Liz Hanson, City of Boulder Business

Liaison, [phone], ; State of Colorado: Matt

Cheroutes, Director of Communications and External Affairs, Colorado Office of

Economic Development and International Trade, [phone],

 



Web site:  http://www.siemens.com/

http://www.siemens.com/energy 

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