BOULDER WIND POWER

Boulder Wind Power hires Suzlon CEO Cukurs
James Quilter, 13 February 2012 (Windpower Monthly)

"Turbine component designer Boulder Wind Power has appointed Suzlon CEO Andy Cukurs as its new chief executive…[He was] with Suzlon for seven years…headed up its entrance into the North American market…[and] replaces founder Former National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) chief engineer Sandy Butterfield, who will become chief technology officer.

"Last year, Boulder clinched $8 million in Series A Preferred Stock venture capital financing to help develop its next-generation direct-drive design…The company is designing a radically different architecture that could substantially reduce generating costs…[It] has the industry's only direct drive that has no need for iron in the core, as it uses ‘air core’ axial flux. Iron cores tend to ‘cog’ or vibrate…which makes them rougher and noisier."

click to enlarge

[Butterfield:] "My goal as founding CEO of Boulder Wind Power was to assemble a world class team, prove the technical and economic superiority of our breakthrough technology, raise capital to fund our development, and build partnerships with some of the best companies in the wind industry…With those goals accomplished, it is the perfect time to add a seasoned business leader like Andy to the team to help us expand our organisation and achieve global deployment of our product…"

[Cukurs:] "Boulder Wind Power has created a game changing approach that will enable the delivery of wind energy at a levelised cost competitive with fossil fuel sources. I’m excited to have the opportunity to build on the foundation that Sandy and team have created and establish the company as a leader in delivering advanced technology to the wind industry."