Ulyanovsk plant opens to manufacture composite wind-turbine blades

A plant for composite wind-turbine blades opened in Ulyanovsk, Russia, on 26 December. The facility belongs to Rosatom's composites division and is intended to supply components for the group's wind-power projects.

Blades for a planned wind farm

After reaching its design rate, the plant is expected to produce up to 450 blades a year, enough to equip 150 turbines. The company's opening statement identifies the Novolakskaya wind farm under construction in Dagestan as the initial destination for production.

The two counts describe different products: three blades form a turbine's set. Neither number establishes how many complete wind turbines have already been installed or connected to an electricity network. The opening concerns component manufacturing, while the destination wind farm is a separate construction project.

Dimensions and manufacturing finance

Rosatom's statement describes blades measuring 51 metres and weighing 8.5 tonnes. Their construction combines glass- and carbon-composite materials. These specifications identify the product being manufactured; they do not by themselves quantify electricity generation, which is not reported as a result of the factory opening.

The Industrial Development Fund told Interfax that investment in the production site totalled 1.67 billion rubles, including a preferential loan of 1.3 billion rubles. The loan is part of the investment total, not an additional amount to be added to it.

A manufacturing milestone with a separate output target

• The opening establishes a production location in Ulyanovsk.
• The annual blade figure describes the intended rate after ramp-up.
• The turbine figure expresses how many sets that rate could supply.

This distinction matters when following the project from factory launch to wind-farm construction. Producing a component, delivering a complete set and commissioning a generating installation are different events. An announcement about one does not demonstrate completion of the others.

The immediate industrial development is the addition of a domestic blade-production stage to Rosatom's wind-equipment supply chain. Future operating reports will be needed to compare actual manufacturing volumes with the annual rate announced at the opening.

Sources: Interfax; Росатом — Атом Медиа.