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Composite nacelle. Photo Credit: Blue Wind

Composites manufacturer  (Pensacola, Fla., U.S.) strives to become a global reference for the production of wind power components. While the company typically imports nacelle technology from Brazil through international strategic partners, the company has reversed the traditional flow of its commercial relations through the export of a production system to the U.S. instead. This, says Blue Wind, has qualified it as one of three local suppliers of nacelles to GE Renewable Energy (Paris, France), an unit of General Electric (GE, Boston, Mass., U.S.) dedicated to the manufacture of wind turbines.

In Brazil, Blue Wind’s directors have accumulated more than twenty years of experience in manufacturing composite materials used in producing nacelles, compartments that accommodate wind turbine generators. “We learned of a large demand for nacelles from GE in the U.S., a company that we already served in Brazil. So, in 90 days, we set up the factory in Pensacola from scratch,” recalls Jean Zolet, executive director of Blue Wind. The unit’s doors were opened in August 2019, and the first pieces were produced the week of Christmas that same year.

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The first complete set of nacelle — part of GE's model 2X turbine — was delivered by Blue Wind on January 23, 2020, the year in which the company produced 343 sets.

“We showed GE that our technology makes it possible to manufacture ten nacelles a week with just one mold, when other manufacturers need two. We also guarantee that our mold will have a lifespan of 1,000 pieces, against the competition’s 500 pieces. All of this, of course, directly impacts the cost of the project,” says Zolet.

Measuring 10 meters long x 4 meters wide x 4 meter high, the nacelles supplied to GE are molded by Blue Wind through an infusion process.

Shortly after the start of the operation and while it was still recruiting local and Brazilian labor — today there are 127 direct jobs — Blue Wind was confronted by the challenges of the pandemic. “We went through a lot of difficulties. Brazilian employees who helped us transfer technology had to quarantine every time they arrived in the U.S. And local employees were also greatly impacted by the health crisis,” says Zolet.

Regarding the North American employees, Zolet pointed out that Blue Wind operation was only able to stand — and still remains today — thanks to the commitment that everyone has shown to the company. “We are so grateful to have found such talented and dedicated people,” he reflects. “They were and continue to be key to Blue Wind's success.”

Despite the pandemic, the delivery of nacelles continued to be carried out and Blue Wind operation began to gain traction. So much so, says Blue Wind, that the contract with GE was renewed in 2021, the year in which the company produced 471 more sets. For 2022, the goal is to surpass the mark of 500 nacelles.

Moreover, in addition to expanding the supply of components to GE and starting partnerships with other wind turbine manufacturers, Blue Wind intends to expand its scope of action to different markets in 2022. The move will be supported not only by infusion, but also by other composite molding technologies.