GE Renewable Energy got a new boost in the Indian wind market when it won a turbine deal from a developer that previously highlighted its links with rival OEM Vestas.

GE will deliver 38 of its 2.7-132 machines to two projects to be built by Powerica, an Indian diesel power group that is now developing a wind portfolio.

The two projects in Rajkot and Khambaliya, totaling 103MW between them, were won by Powerica in national and local tenders.

The deal is another boost for GE in the competitive Indian market, where its 2.7MW turbines were recently selected for a 300MW Gujarat project under development by EDF and Sitac.

Powerica on its corporate website stresses its links with Danish wind giant Vestas as “international technology partner” in its previous wind forays back to 2008. The Indian group signed a deal as recently as 2018 with Vestas for 50MW of turbines for its Bhatel project in Gujarat.

But in its latest statement Powerica chairman Naresh Oberoi said: “We have found in GE Renewable Energy a partner for our renewable energy development journey. We will continue to support each other in future projects and development activities in India.”

GE trailed international rivals Siemens Gamesa and Vestas in India in installation terms last year, adding 250MW in 2019 to claim an 11% share of the market, according to data from BloombergNEF.

The Indian wind market is still tipped to balloon into one of the world’s largest despite a host of obstacles that range from land and grid availability to undersubscribed auctions.

Wind

GE bags wind turbine deal from long-time Vestas customer in new India boost