Spanish based Gamesa Corporacion Tecnologia SA's Wind Division has just won a contract in Italy for 116 MW of wind turbines, as well as their installation, operation and maintenance.

Gamesa sticks out as a player in the wind business who not only manufacture, but do everything else as well. They really are vertically integrated. The contract in Italy is of note because they have heretofore mostly catered to the domestic market in Spain.

Gamesa also makes aeronautical components, even working on Europe's Typhoon fighter jet. In broad terms, the development of wind power has closely mirrored the development of aircraft. From wood, to metal, to composites. For both industries, the challenge was to create materials strong and light enough to withstand increasing speeds and stresses.

And that engineering envelope is still being pushed.