Suzlon Opens State-of-the-Art Wind Training Center

Suzlon Wind Energy Corp., the North American subsidiary of India-based Suzlon Energy Ltd. (BOM:532667) opened a state-of-the-art training center at its Chicago headquarters – it will provide training for wind technicians across its North American operations.

Suzlon is the world’s fifth largest wind turbine manufacturer.

The facility features a 4,000 square-foot lab, an 8,000 square-foot wind-turbine training center and a fully operational wind turbine to be used exclusively for training purposes. 

Suzlon also installed a "working-at-heights" training area to simulate on-the-job experiences working at the top of tall wind turbines.

The training center is a new addition to Suzlon’s 64,000 square-foot central distribution center in Elgin, Illinois, which opened in October 2010.

Suzlon says the building has sound-proofing technology that converts sound to heat, as well as LED lights, LED televisions and an HVAC system that operates at better than 98% efficiency. Building materials were made with recycled or green products.

"People want to see more green jobs, and I’m proud to say that Suzlon plans to train 300 wind technicians this year who work at our wind farms in North America," says Andris Cukurs, CEO of Suzlon Wind Energy Corp. "This is valuable training and knowledge that our employees will bring to maintaining more than 1,200 turbines in 16 U.S. states and in Canada. Investing in our workforce is a key reason that our North American fleet frequently exceeds 98 percent availability."

Suzlon employs 13,000 people worldwide and has 17,000 MW of wind energy capacity installed in 25 countries, with annual revenues of $4 billion. The company has one of the most comprehensive product portfolios – ranging from sub-megawatt on-shore turbines at 600 kilowatts (KW), to the world’s largest commercial 6.15 MW offshore turbine – built on a vertically integrated, low-cost, manufacturing base. Suzlon has a 95% stake in Germany-based REpower Systems AG (ETR: RPW).

Unfortunately, Suzlon only employs 650 people in N. America, even though it sited its first blade manufacturing facility outside India in Minnesota in 2004.