Electric Drives Growth Propelled by Growing Wind Energy Industry, According to Frost & Sullivan

LONDON, April 28, 2010 - With wind turbine (WT) emerging the fastest growing energy source in the
world, there has been a continuous rise in the size of wind farms and
capacity of WTs. This has required an increase in the operating voltage of
wind farms to keep power transmission losses as low as possible. Electric
drives in WT generators (WTGs) are a popular choice among industry entrants
who are looking for cost-effective solutions that will help them produce
power efficiently and achieve the return on investment desired, while meeting
grid code requirements.

(Logo: www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081117/FSLOGO)

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan (www.motors.frost.com), Global
Outlook for Electric Drives in the Wind Power Industry, finds that the
industry earned revenues of $1.6 billion in 2009, and estimates this to reach
$4.10 billion in 2015.

Electric drives in WT generators (WTGs) are a popular choice among wind
farm owners because these drives do not contain any part that requires
maintenance. "The goal of electric drives is to avoid the complexity of a
multistage gearbox by employing variable speed generators and solid-state
electronic converters that produce utility-quality alternating current (AC).
This will help achieve compactness and thereby, less maintenance," explains
Frost & Sullivan Program Manager Abhishek Gokhale.

There has been a marked preference for direct drive systems in the last
couple of years. Variability and intermittency of wind are encouraging
suppliers to deploy direct drive technologies with full power converters
systems. This will give them higher energy efficiencies, lesser maintenance
than conventional gearbox machines and more power output.

"Market entrants from European countries and China are adopting direct
drive technologies, which simplifies the nacelle systems, augments
reliability and efficiency as well as avoids gearbox issues," adds Abhishek
Gokhale. "WT suppliers are designing technologies that are lighter and more
cost-effective than the conventional geared drive trains, and these are
expected to drive the new installations."

Scientists are also developing new systems for guidance, control and
connecting the WT with power grids. Wind farms are located in remote areas,
while the greatest power demand is from cities. This means that the power
supply depends on a robust transmission grid. However, with the proliferation
of wind farms, transmission lines could be hard to procure.

Lack of transmission line infrastructure particularly affects the North
American and Asian regions. Therefore, future wind power plants will not only
support the grid by delivering fault ride capability as well as frequency,
voltage and volt-ampere-reactive (VAR) control, but also carry a share of
power control capability for the grid. Modern designs of generators and
electric drives are likely to be customised to suit WT operation.

Taking into account their energy yield and reliability, direct-drive
generator systems with electric drives are expected to be more suited to WT
than geared drive systems, especially for offshore applications, in which
maintenance is a huge concern. Electric drive manufacturers can position
themselves to control a share of the growing electric drives used in
double-fed induction and permanent magnet generators.

"Some of the established WT suppliers already have in-house capabilities
to manufacture 20 to 40 percent of their drive requirements in-house," notes
Gokhale. "However, there is a huge opportunity from the end-user markets of
new entrants and WTG suppliers that outsource their electric drives
requirements."

If you are interested in more information on this study, please send an
e-mail to Joanna Lewandowska, Corporate Communications, at
joanna.lewandowska@frost.com, with your full name, company name, title, and
contact details.

Global Outlook for Electric Drives in the Wind Power Industry is part of
the Power Transmission Growth Partnership Services programme, which also
includes research in the following markets: motors, drives and controls. All
research services included in subscriptions provide detailed market
opportunities and industry trends that have been evaluated following
extensive interviews with market participants.

About Frost & Sullivan

Frost & Sullivan, the Growth Partnership Company, enables clients to
accelerate growth and achieve best-in-class positions in growth, innovation
and leadership. The company's Growth Partnership Service provides the CEO and
the CEO's Growth Team with disciplined research and best-practice models to
drive the generation, evaluation, and implementation of powerful growth
strategies. Frost & Sullivan leverages over 45 years of experience in
partnering with Global 1000 companies, emerging businesses and the investment
community from 40 offices on six continents. To join our Growth Partnership,
please visit www.frost.com.

         Global Outlook for Electric Drives in the Wind Power Industry
                               M4F8-17

    Contact:
    Joanna Lewandowska
    Corporate Communications - Europe
    P: +48-22-390-41-46
    E: joanna.lewandowska@frost.com

www.frost.com

Joanna Lewandowska, Frost & Sullivan, Corporate Communications - Europe, +48-22-390-41-46, joanna.lewandowska at frost.com