Northern Power Systems is a

renewable energy Renewable energy (also called green energy) is energy made from renewable resource, renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human lifetime, human timescale. The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind pow ...

company specializing in the design, manufacturing, installation and deployment of small to medium-scale

wind turbines A wind turbine is a device that converts the kinetic energy of wind into electrical energy. , hundreds of thousands of large turbines, in installations known as wind farms, were generating over 650 gigawatts of power, with 60 GW added each y ...

and solar energy systems for commercial and industrial applications. Headquartered in Italy, the company operates globally with a strong focus on distributed energy generation,

microgrids A microgrid is a local electrical grid with defined electrical boundaries, acting as a single and controllable entity. It is able to operate in grid-connected and off-grid modes.

, and remote power solutions.

History

Northern Power Systems was originally founded in 1974 as North Wind Power Company in Warren, Vermont, USA. In its early years, the company pioneered the development of high-reliability wind turbines, particularly for remote and extreme environments. In 1978, it was awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop the HR2, a 2.2 kW direct-drive wind turbine, which became widely adopted for its durability and performance. During the 1990s, Northern Power Systems developed its first 100 kW wind turbine, tested and proven in

Alaska Alaska ( ) is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the north ...

. This model evolved into the NPS 100, a permanent magnet direct drive (PMDD) turbine known for its efficiency and low maintenance requirements. In the 2000s, the company began series production of the NPS 100 and briefly entered the utility-scale market with the NPS 2.3-93 turbine, before selling that division to WEG in 2015. In 2014, the company established a European operational branch in Italy, which successfully installed and managed over 450 turbines in just four years. Following a management buyout in 2019, the European branch became an independent company, acquiring exclusive licenses on NPS technology and relocating its headquarters to Italy. In 2023, Northern Power Systems re-entered the U.S. market, driven by policy support from the

Inflation Reduction Act The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA) is a United States federal law which aims to reduce the federal government budget deficit, lower prescription drug prices, and invest in domestic energy production while promoting clean energy. It was ...

(IRA), marking a new phase of international growth.

Technology and Services

Northern Power Systems’ wind turbines are based on Permanent Magnet Direct Drive (PMDD) technology, which eliminates the need for a gearbox and minimizes energy losses. This results in higher efficiency, reduced maintenance, and greater durability—especially in harsh environments such as the Arctic and the Caribbean. The NPS 100 turbine has logged over 79 million operating hours, with more than 900 units installed worldwide. In addition, Northern Power Systems developed a digital monitoring and control platform that enables remote diagnostics, predictive maintenance, and real-time performance optimization for both wind and solar assets. Northern Power Systems provides comprehensive

Operations and Maintenance The technical meaning of maintenance involves functional checks, servicing, repairing or replacing of necessary devices, equipment, machinery, building infrastructure and supporting utilities in industrial, business, and residential installat ...

(O&M) services to ensure the longevity and optimal performance of renewable energy installations. These services are designed to maximize the return on investment for clients by enhancing system reliability and efficiency.

References

{{Authority control Wind turbine manufacturers Engineering companies of the United States Manufacturing companies based in Vermont 1974 establishments in Vermont American companies established in 1974