BlueWind Technology is celebrating its 1500th nacelle produced at the manufacturing company’s Pensacola facility. A nacelle is a cover that houses a wind turbine’s system components such as the generator, gear box and controller.
BlueWind has been operating in Pensacola since 2019 and supplies nacelles to GE Renewable Energy. FloridaWest was instrumental in helping to recruit the company to Pensacola where they’ve grown from 1 to 100 employees in just three years.
Danita Andrews, FloridaWest Chief Business Development Officer, said BlueWind has persevered through many obstacles throughout the pandemic to achieve the rapid growth they’ve seen since startup.
“BlueWind jumped over hurdle after hurdle to continue their forward momentum during the pandemic,” said Andrews. “And now to be celebrating 1500 nacelles built is quite an achievement. And at the same time, they’re giving back to the community by employing second chance workers.”
In fact, 45 percent of their workforce are second chance workers, and they are excelling within the company. BlueWind Director of Sustainability and Administration Henry Kelley, said he’s proud of the difference the company is making toward sustainability with renewable energy and within the community.
“These second-chance team members are thriving in our culture,” said Kelley. “With nearly half of our workforce in this category, BlueWind excelled throughout the pandemic and that continues today. Our 1500 nacelles are protecting 1500 wind turbines that are powering roughly 2.5 million homes. So, you can see how BlueWind is making a significant contribution toward a sustainable future for all of us.”
BlueWind has big plans for the future, marketing its innovative composite to other industries.
“With GE investing $20 million in Pensacola, we are literally becoming the home of onshore wind power in North America,” said Kelley. “In addition, we are pursuing other opportunities with partners from diverse industries whose companies can benefit from our high-tech components designed to handle heavy industrial applications.”
BlueWind Technology Celebration Event
Who: BlueWind Technology
What: Celebration of 1500th Nacelle Produced
When: July 6, 2023 at 10 a.m.
Where: 7502 Sears Boulevard, 32514, Pensacola, FL
About FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance:
FloridaWest Economic Development Alliance is the designated economic development organization for Pensacola and Escambia County. They are an alliance of public and private community leaders dedicated to collectively building, growing and sustaining the economic potential and prosperity of individuals, businesses and our Northwest Florida communities.
About BlueWind Technology:
BlueWind was founded in August 2019 to supply a large demand of nacelle covers for GE. Our first complete nacelle, part of GE’s model 2X turbine, was delivered on Jan. 23, 2020, a year in which BlueWind produced 343 sets. Despite the pandemic, the delivery of nacelles continued and our operation began to gain traction. So much so that the contract with GE was renewed in 2021, year in which we produced more 471 sets.
In July 2023, we reached a very special milestone in our history — the manufacture of nacelle number 1,500.
From the first one until the thousandth, we were lucky to have not only dedicated and talented employees, but also the support of the community of Pensacola, Florida who work to promote business in the city.
