http://www.newenergyworldnetwork.com/investor-news/renewable-energy-news/by-technology/wind/siemens-opens-wind-division-hq-in-hamburg.html

 

German electronics manufacturer Siemens has opened a new wind power headquarters that will begin operation next month in Hamburg, north Germany.

 

Michael Suess, member of the managing board of Siemens and CEO of Siemens Energy, said, 'Hamburg is a highly attractive location and at the same time one of the world's most important wind power centres. For that reason we will in the future be running our fast-growing wind power business from this city. With our new organisational set-up we'll have a stronger regional alignment and greater customer intimacy. They are key prerequisites to continuing the success story of our wind power business in the future, too. Our starting position for that is very good: We can build on a record order backlog totalling almost €11bn and, in offshore wind power plants, the fastest growing market sector, we're world market leader.'

Olaf Scholz, Mayor of Hamburg, added, 'Hamburg is the capital city of wind power in Germany. With the decision taken by Siemens we're increasing the possibility of together turning the north German states into one of the world's leading locations in this industry. The decision is good for Hamburg as a business location and good for Hamburg as an environmental capital. In the field of environmental protection we have to bank even more than before on technical innovations. My understanding of modern environmental policy is above all also linked with the ability to promote and implement technical innovations. I'm a fan and admirer of engineered environmental protection. Wind power is part of that.'

In 2004, Siemens took over Danish wind energy company Bonys Energy and, since then, it has seen its wind division work force grow 800 to around 7,800 as well as experiencing revenue increase twelvefold to €3.2bn. The company currently has seven manufacturing facilities in three countries and expects this to grow in three years to twelve factories in eight countries.

Siemens was recently contracted to supply turbines for a 69MW wind farm in the US being developed by Duke Energy and at the start of the month added 13 new turbines to which added 29.9MW to a wind farm in Iowa.