GE Signs Wind Turbine Converter Support Agreement to Cut Operational Costs and Enhance Customer Operations and Management Capabilities

GE’s Power Conversion business (NYSE: GE) today announced that it has signed a framework agreement with EDF EN to provide support services for the converters used in EDF EN’s wind parks throughout Europe. The service contract will enable the staff of EDF EN Services, EDF Energies Nouvelles’ subsidiary dedicated to the operation and maintenance in Europe, to acquire the skills necessary to maintain and troubleshoot converters with support from GE engineers over the phone—or on-site for complex problems. This will allow EDF EN Services to decrease downtime to maximize production of the wind turbine.

The services offered by GE under the framework agreement include remote service with hotline support, a short departure guarantee for on-site repairs, strategic spare parts and obsolescence management, single contract/single entry point, personnel training (including levels and certification) and contract management. The agreement currently involves several wind farms in Europe.

“Wind turbine converters are complex pieces of technology that are critical to the efficient transmission of energy produced to the grid, and maintaining them has traditionally been very costly. Our aim is to provide customers with the tools and information they need to reduce their operation costs by empowering them to undertake fault remediation internally. In fact, we have found that nine out of 10 calls to our support hotline can be resolved on the phone, saving expensive on-site interventions. The majority of converter issues can be resolved thanks to the training. Hotline and remote service provide an escalation path, and if the problem can’t be fixed over the phone, a GE expert will visit the site to resolve the issue, managing much of the risk,” said John Chatwin, services commercial leader for GE’s Power Conversion business. “In addition, with GE’s global scope, we can offer utilities support virtually anywhere in the world, covering their entire fleet, both onshore and offshore, across Europe and the United States.”

About GE Power Conversion

GE’s Power Conversion business applies the science and systems of power conversion to help drive the electrification of the world’s energy infrastructure by designing and delivering advanced motor, drive and control technologies that evolve today’s industrial processes for a cleaner, more productive future. Serving specialized sectors such as energy, marine, oil and gas, renewables and industry, through customized solutions and advanced technologies, GE Power Conversion partners with customers to maximize efficiency. To learn more, please visit: www.gepowerconversion.com.

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About GE

GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company’s website at www.ge.com.