GE’s multi-megawatt onshore wind machine marks Polish commercial debut following other key European installations  

Salzbergen, Germany – October 7th, 2010 – GE´s (NYSE:GE) multi-megawatt wind turbine technology has entered commercial service in Poland and is helping the country meet its renewable energy requirements, GE announced today at the official opening of the Nekla windpark. With Poland’s high wind potential and large agricultural areas, wind technology will play a key role to help the country meet its target to have 15% of its total energy supplied by renewable resources by the year 2020.

Marking the debut of GE’s 2.5-100, technology in Poland the Nekla project is owned by the Polish affiliate company of E.ON Climate and Renewables and consists of 21 turbines installed at seven sites in the Wielkopolska Region. All turbines have been successfully installed, commissioned and connected to the grid.

With a rotor diameter of 100 meters, the 2.5-100 provides customers with increased annual energy production while maintaining efficiency, reliability and grid connection capabilities.  “The increased output of each unit, the qualities and track record of GE technology have been key factors in our turbine choice for this project, with which E.ON will produce more than 50 megawatts of clean, wind generated electricity for the Polish market,” said Sven Utermöhlen, Regional Director Central Europe for E.ON Climate & Renewables.

Nearly 200 of GE’s 2.5-100 onshore wind turbines have been shipped, primarily for projects in European countries including Romania, France Holland, Turkey, Germany, Belgium, Spain and Italy, and have complied more than one million operating hours.  This machine is designed as an evolutionary product and built upon the success of GE’s 1.5-megawatt wind turbine, the world’s most widely deployed megawatt-class wind turbine with nearly 14,000 units installed.

“With its excellent wind conditions and favorable regulations, Poland is one of the most promising wind energy countries in Europe,” said Ricardo Cordoba, President of GE Energy Western Europe & North Africa. “We are pleased that the first application of our 2.5-100 technology in Poland is helping the country meet its clean energy targets.”

About E.ON Climate & Renewables

With sales of more than 82 billion Euro and more than 88.000 employees E.ON is one of the world’s largest investor-owned power and gas companies. E.ON Climate & Renewables bundles the Group’s Renewables and Carbon Sourcing business worldwide. Currently E.ON Climate & Renewables operates wind farms on- and offshore of a total capacity of more than 3.000 MW and is further building up its renewables capacities with investments of 8 billion Euro from 2007 to 2011 alone. Further to wind energy the company is investing in the solar sector as a strong second leg and develops, builds and operates biogas and biomass plants in various European countries.

Source:GE Energy