Mitsubishi triples wind turbine production capacity

Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries is to aggressively expand its production of wind turbines, increasing annual output from two domestic factories from 381 MW at present to 1208 MW by 2008. New overseas production facilities are also in the pipeline, says the company's Hideo Ikuno, with MHI considering joint ventures with local manufacturing partners abroad. The plan is part of the company's strategy to boost sales in the US, where it hopes to increase sales there from the ´30 billion ($254.83 million) achieved in the 2005 financial year to ´100 billion ($849.44 million) in 2008. It is also aiming to increase its global market share from 2% currently to 10% by 2008. The company recently announced an order for 42 of its 2.4 MW machines from US utility PPM Energy.