Power technology company American Superconductor Corporation (AMSC) has agreed to work with a Chinese firm to develop 5MW wind turbines for offshore wind farms.

The Massachusetts-based firm signed a contract with existing partner Dongfang Turbine Co. to design and develop the machine for production from 2012.

The two companies are also working on a 2.5MW product set for manufacture starting later this year.

AMSC described its partner as China’s third-largest wind turbine manufacturer, having shipped out 800 machines rated at 1.5MW during 2008.

Part of power equipment giant Dongfang Electric Corporation, the Chinese turbine manufacturer is set to commission its first prototype 2.5MW model soon, designed under agreement with AMSC Windtec and expected to enter volume production in the second half of 2010.

Wang Wei Min, vice general manager and chief engineer of Dongfang, said: “Dongfang has firmly established itself as a top manufacturer of wind turbines for the Chinese market and has aggressive plans to enter the global market with cutting-edge technologies.”

“We are happy to expand our relationship with AMSC and add this higher-power, full conversion wind turbine to our portfolio to help meet the growing demand for clean, wind-generated electricity,” added the Dongfang vice general manager.

Offshore

The agreement over the 5MW turbine will see Dongfang holding exclusive rights to supply the machine for the worldwide offshore wind market in 2012.

AMSC has the right of first refusal to supply the core electrical components for the machines.

Greg Yurek, founder and chief executive officer of AMSC, said of the agreements: “We are particularly pleased to see more and more of our customers become repeat customers for new wind turbine designs. It is a validation of our advanced wind turbine technologies and signals more growth for our customers and AMSC going forward.”

AMSC cited the Industry research firm Emerging Energy Research as suggesting that the global offshore wind power market will grow from its current installed capacity of 1.5GW to 41.5GW in 2020.