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Press Release

GE Expands Global Wind Presence with First Order in Pakistan

October 27, 2014
  • 33 GE 1.5-82.5 Wind Turbines will Generate Power from Pakistan’s Sind Wind Corridor
  • Wind Farm to Assist Pakistan in Lowering Energy Deficit and Meet Alternative Energy Goals
  • 50 Megawatt (MW) Deal Includes Ten Year Service Agreement with GE 

SINDH, Pakistan-October 27, 2014-Executing on growing the presence of renewable energy around the world, GE (NYSE: GE) today announced it will supply equipment and procurement contractor HydroChina and wind farm customer Sapphire with 33 GE 1.5-82.5 wind turbines for the Sapphire Wind Power farm in the southeastern Pakistani province of Sindh, located outside the provincial capital of Karachi. GE will also provide 10 years of operations and maintenance services as part of the contract.

The 33 wind turbines will comprise the first GE powered wind farm in Pakistan and will be constructed in the Gharo-Keti Bandar Wind Corridor. The wind farm has the capacity to generate 50 MW of electricity, helping Pakistan meet the 5 percent goal it has set for percentage of electricity generation from renewable sources by 2030.

Though this is GE’s first wind energy project with Sapphire and HydroChina, Sapphire has selected GE power generation equipment for more than 18 years-choosing GE’s Jenbacher engines and gas turbines for projects located in the region.

“We chose GE wind turbines because they are a well-proven technology and widely installed around the world, especially in tropical climates like that of Pakistan,” said Nadeem Abdullah, owner of the Sapphire Wind Power farm. “GE has been instrumental in supporting Sapphire to achieve financial closure with OPIC.”

OPIC is the U.S. Government’s Development Finance Institution, which mobilizes to provide capital to global development in order to assist U.S. foreign policy efforts, including helping develop renewable energy as a mutual American-Pakistani goal. OPIC’s funding will help assist in the development of the wind farm.

Pakistan contains vast renewable energy potential, estimated by the U.S. Agency for International Development and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory at over 132 gigawatts (GW) of wind energy capacity. With an increasing electricity demand at four percent per year, Pakistan also needs over 6 GW of additional generation according to Pakistan’s National Electric Power Regulatory Agency.

“GE is excited to help our customers in Pakistan work towards its goals for renewable energy growth in the country,” said Anne McEntee, president and CEO of GE’s renewable energy business. “Pakistan has huge potential for wind energy, and is a great example of a country where wind can be competitive with other generation technologies.”
Globally, GE has over 37 GW of installed wind turbine capacity, operating at over 98 percent availability.               

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About GE Power & Water

GE Power & Water provides customers with a broad array of power generation, energy delivery and water process technologies to solve their challenges locally. Power & Water works in all areas of the energy industry including renewable resources such as wind and solar; biogas and alternative fuels; and coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy. The business also develops advanced technologies to help solve the world’s most complex challenges related to water availability and quality. Power & Water’s six business units include Distributed Power, Nuclear Energy, Power Generation Products, Power Generation Services, Renewable Energy and Water & Process Technologies. Headquartered in Schenectady, N.Y., Power & Water is GE’s largest industrial business.

Follow GE Power & Water and GE’s renewables business on Twitter @GE_PowerWater and @GErenewables.

Melissa Quesnel
GE Power
[email protected]
+1 518 385 4747
+1 518 248 6985

Laura Aresi
GE Power - Power Services
[email protected]
+39 02 67335622


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