Whirlpool to harness more wind power for Ohio factory

October 12 (Renewables Now) - US household appliances maker Whirlpool Corp (NYSE:WHR) said on Thursday it plans to add more units to the three-turbine wind park at its factory in Greenville, Ohio.

The project will expand the existing wind power facility with three more turbines, expected to offset around 70% of the Greenville plant's electricity consumption. The new machines will be able to generate enough electricity to supply about 1,200 average homes.

The Greenville site’s existing turbines, with a capacity of 1.5 MW each, were supplied by China’s Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology (HKG:2208). Whirlpool did not provide details about the turbine choice for the expansion but said it has carried out feasibility studies to estimate the potential impacts of turbine installation, including environmental effects.

Following completion of the project, Whirlpool will have nine wind turbines at four locations in Ohio with a combined output that will be able to meet the demand of 3,600 households. "These wind turbines are another example of how global companies like Whirlpool can make a positive impact at the local level," said Jenni Hanna, plant lead for Greenville Operations at Whirlpool.