GE turbines head to Estonia's energy-rich, windy coast

GE is bringing its wind turbines to Estonia, which it calls “one of Europe’s most promising wind sectors.”

A total of 18 turbines are set to go up on the Paldiski Wind Farm, which is expected to add 45 megawatts of clean energy to Estonia’s power grid. The wind farm will be operated by Eesti Energia AS and Nelja Energia OÜ.

GE is scheduled to begin shipping the turbines in spring 2012, with commercial operation of the completed wind farm expected to start in 2012.

Thanks to strong winds coming off the Baltic Sea, Estonia enjoys significant potential for wind power development, and the Estonian Wind Power Association (EWPA) has identified wind as the country’s leading resource for renewable energy. At the end of 2010, Estonia had 149 megawatts of installed wind capacity, with about 570 megawatts of new wind projects currently in development.