Gamesa

Gamesa. It was a major Spanish manufacturer of wind turbines and a prominent developer of wind farms globally. Founded in 1976, the company grew to become a world leader in the renewable energy sector, with a significant presence in markets across Europe, North America, and Latin America. Its corporate history culminated in a merger with the wind power division of Siemens in 2017, forming Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

History

The company was established in 1976 by businessman Juan Luis Arregui, initially focusing on metallurgy and aeronautics components. It entered the wind power industry in 1994, licensing technology from the Danish firm Vestas, and quickly became a key player in the burgeoning Spanish wind energy market. A pivotal moment came in 2001 when it acquired the wind turbine manufacturing assets of Enron Wind following the collapse of its parent company, Enron, gaining crucial technology and a foothold in the United States. Throughout the 2000s, it expanded aggressively, opening production facilities in China and the United States and becoming a top global original equipment manufacturer. Facing intense market competition and consolidation, it announced a merger with Siemens Wind Power in 2016, a deal finalized in April 2017 to create Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy.

Products and services

The company's core product line consisted of onshore wind turbines, with models like the G8X and G9X series, which featured advanced direct drive technology and capacities ranging from 2 to 5 megawatts. It was also a fully integrated wind farm developer, handling everything from site assessment and project financing to construction and long-term operations and maintenance. Its services included comprehensive asset management for wind power plants and technological innovation through its research and development centers, such as those in Sarriguren, Navarre, and Orlando, Florida.

Corporate affairs

Prior to the merger, the company was publicly traded on the Madrid Stock Exchange and was a constituent of the IBEX 35 index. Its major shareholders included the Spanish financial group Iberdrola, with which it had a long-standing strategic alliance for wind farm development. The merger with Siemens was structured as a stock-for-stock transaction, with Siemens AG holding a 59% stake in the new entity, Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. The company's global headquarters were located in Zamudio, in the Basque Country, with other key operational hubs in Chicago, Shanghai, and Hamburg.

Environmental and social impact

As a major player in clean energy, the company's wind turbines contributed significantly to the avoidance of carbon dioxide emissions globally. It engaged in various corporate social responsibility initiatives, often focused on local communities near its wind farms, including educational programs and infrastructure projects. The company adhered to international standards like the Global Reporting Initiative and was a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact. Its manufacturing and operations created thousands of jobs worldwide, though it also faced scrutiny and opposition from some local groups and environmentalists concerned about the impact of wind farms on landscapes and wildlife.

See also

* Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy * Vestas * General Electric Renewable Energy * Nordex * Wind power in Spain * Renewable energy commercialization

Category:Wind turbine manufacturers Category:Companies based in the Basque Country Category:Renewable energy companies of Spain