AMSC Receives $18 Million Order from Sinovel Wind for 3 MW Wind Turbine Core Electrical Components
Apr 2, 2008
Back
AMSC Receives $18 Million Order from Sinovel Wind for 3 MW Wind Turbine Core Electrical ComponentsDEVENS, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 2, 2008--American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: AMSC), a leading energy technologies company, today announced that it has received an order worth more than $18 million for wind turbine electrical systems and core electrical components from Beijing-based Sinovel Wind Corporation Limited. Under the terms of the contract, AMSC will deliver these products to Sinovel over the next 15 months. The systems and components will be deployed in 3 megawatt (MW) wind turbines that have been developed under a contract initiated with AMSC Windtec, a wholly owned subsidiary of AMSC, approximately one year ago.

In March 2007, AMSC announced that it signed a multi-million-dollar contract with Sinovel Wind under which 3 MW and 5 MW wind turbines would be developed. Sinovel is continuing to manufacture and deploy the 1.5 MW wind turbines it began producing in 2005. The 1.5 MW wind turbines also utilize core electrical components produced by AMSC.

The Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC) recently reported "breathtaking" growth in Asia's wind energy markets, where over a quarter of all new capacity in 2007 was installed. China alone added more than 3.4 GW of wind energy capacity during the year, bringing its total installed capacity to more than 6 GW. The China Wind Power Report 2007 - published jointly by the GWEC, Greenpeace and the Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association - predicts that China could lead the world in wind energy development and play a larger role in combating climate change. The report projects China's installed wind power capacity will grow to 10 GW by 2010 and could exceed 120 GW by 2020.

AMSC's wind turbine electrical systems and core electrical components include the company's proprietary PowerModule™ power converters. They enable reliable, high-performance wind turbine operation by controlling power flows, regulating voltage, monitoring system performance and controlling the pitch of wind turbine blades to maximize efficiency.

About American Superconductor (NASDAQ: AMSC)

AMSC is a leading energy technologies company offering an array of solutions based on two proprietary technologies: programmable power electronic converters and high temperature superconductor (HTS) wires. The company's products, services and system-level solutions enable cleaner, more efficient and more reliable generation, delivery and use of electric power. AMSC is a leader in alternative energy, offering grid interconnection solutions as well as licensed wind energy designs and electrical systems. As the world's principal supplier of HTS wire, the company is enabling a new generation of compact, high-power electrical products, including power cables, grid-level surge protectors, Secure Super Grids™ technology, motors, generators, and advanced transportation and defense systems. AMSC also provides utility and industrial customers worldwide with voltage regulation systems that dramatically enhance power grid capacity, reliability and security, as well as industrial productivity. The company's technologies are protected by a broad and deep intellectual property portfolio consisting of hundreds of patents and licenses worldwide. More information is available at www.amsc.com.

American Superconductor and design, Revolutionizing the Way the World Uses Electricity, AMSC, Powered by AMSC, SuperVAR, D-VAR, DVC, PQ-IVR, PowerModule, Secure Super Grids and Windtec are trademarks or registered trademarks of AMSC.

Any statements in this release about future expectations, plans and prospects for the company, including statements containing the words "believes," "anticipates," "plans," "expects," "will" and similar expressions, constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. There are a number of important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include: uncertainties regarding the company's ability to obtain anticipated funding from corporate and government contracts, to successfully develop, manufacture and market commercial products, and to secure anticipated orders; the risk that a robust market may not develop for the company's products; the risk that strategic alliances and other contracts may be terminated; the risk that certain technologies utilized by the company will infringe intellectual property rights of others; the competition encountered by the company, including several large Japanese companies. Reference is made to these and other factors discussed in the "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operation" section of the company's most recent quarterly or annual report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. In addition, the forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the company's views as of the date of this release. While the company anticipates that subsequent events and developments may cause the company's views to change, the company specifically disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the company's views as of any date subsequent to the date this press release is issued.

CONTACT:
American Superconductor Corporation (NASDAQ: AMSC)
Jason Fredette, 978-842-3177
Director of Investor & Media Relations
jfredette@amsc.com

SOURCE: American Superconductor Corporation