GE announced an order from Suncor Energy for 55 of GE’s advanced 1.6-megawatt wind turbines for one of the largest wind power projects in the province of Alberta, Canada. The Wintering Hills project is part of a new “crop” of wind farms being built across Canada with the help of GE’s technical expertise and highly reliable wind turbine technologies.

“Winning this deal with Suncor illustrates how our wind turbine power enhancement technologies are making a difference for our customers’ return on investment,” said Victor Abate, vice president-renewable energy for GE Power & Water. “Our proven track record in handling the most robust wind locations remains a key factor in our success.”

GE’s 1.6-megawatt wind turbine makes use of a range of product features—including 82.5-meter blades—to maximize power output while providing superior control flexibility and increased reliability with decreased maintenance requirements. The technology builds on GE’s proven experience of its 1.5-megawatt turbine, the workhorse of the global wind energy industry with more than 14,000 units installed.

At peak operation, the Wintering Hills wind farm is expected to generate enough clean electricity to power approximately 35,000 Canadian homes.

The 88-megawatt Wintering Hills project is located near Drumheller, approximately 125 km (78 miles) northeast of Calgary. GE will deliver 55 of its advanced wind turbines to the site beginning in the second quarter of 2011. The project is owned jointly by Suncor (70%) and Teck Resources (30%).

“Alberta is rich in many resources that can be used to produce electricity, including wind energy,” said Keith Triginer, GE Energy’s newly appointed country executive for Canada. “We are working hand-in-hand with Suncor and others to make wind and other alternative energy sources a larger, more integral part of the Province’s overall energy supply.”