ORLANDO, FLORIDA - November 28, 2006 :- Greater energy output and increased efficiency are among the key features that have been added to the newest version of GE Energy's 2.5xl wind turbine, designed to increase customer value and meet the growing requirements of today's onshore wind projects.

The new machine's rotor diameter of 100 meters is an increase of 12 meters over the current 2.5-megawatt wind turbine and is the largest available for onshore applications. Compared to the previous machine, the enhanced 2.5xl offers a five-point increase in capacity factor and a 12-percent increase in annual energy yield. It also has the capability to operate at sites with average wind speeds of up to 8.5 meters per second.

The enhanced 2.5xl is the next generation for GE Energy's fleet of wind turbines. A 2.5-megawatt validation machine has been operating at Wieringermeer in the Netherlands since 2004. Originally installed and commissioned with an 88-meter rotor diameter, in August of 2006 this wind turbine was modified with the 100-meter rotor and other new 2.5xl features.

"GE is the owner and operator of this turbine, which gives us an excellent opportunity to extensively test the turbine prior to the installation of two more validation machines in 2007 and the start of commercial shipment in 2008," said Victor Abate, vice president-renewables of GE Energy.

The 2.5xl has been designed to meet the immediate requirements of the European Union, where the lack of available land constrains the size of projects. The 2.5xl will be manufactured at GE's Salzbergen, Germany facilities, with key markets expected to be Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland and the United Kingdom.

"Our goal is for the 2.5xl design to become the industry's multi-megawatt workhorse machine. Building upon the success of our 1.5-megawatt units, we are committed to continually improving and supporting technology to offer our customers long-term reliability and high performance," said Abate.

The new 2.5xl contains a permanent magnet generator that significantly improves efficiency at lower wind speeds, and a full-size power converter that offers enhanced grid integration capabilities compared to existing technology. Examples include improved power control and power factor control, along with Low Voltage Ride-Through capability that enables the unit to stay on-line during system disturbances.

The development program for the 2.5xl began more than two years ago, and has been supported by GE Energy's wind turbine components and wind systems Centers of Excellence. In addition, the GE Global Research Center helped to develop an advanced controls system that will lead to a significant reduction in fatigue loads.

The 2.5xl joins GE Energy's line of wind turbines that also includes the 1.5-megawatt machine, one of the industry's most widely used turbines with more than 5,000 installed worldwide.

GE Energy's wind turbine technology is a major component of ecomagination, a GE corporate-wide initiative to develop and market technologies that will help customers address pressing environmental challenges.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2005 revenue of $16.5 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

With wind turbine design, manufacturing and assembly facilities in Germany, Spain, China, Canada and the United States, GE Energy is among the leading providers of wind energy products and support services ranging from commercial wind turbines and grid integration products to project development assistance and operation and maintenance. The company's knowledge base includes the development and/or installation of more than 9,100 wind turbines with a total rated output of 8,600 megawatts.

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