Spanish wind technology leader Gamesa Technology signed a partnership agreement with Singapore's Nanyang Technological University (NTU) on Thursday to launch an advanced materials laboratory to support the development of giant wind turbines.

The laboratory begins its work with three important research projects jointly with the NTU, the National University of Singapore and the Agency for Science, Technology and Research. The partnership with NTU will mainly cover research on wind turbine blade coatings and methods for incorporating the materials into the manufacturing systems, the company said.

The laboratory, one of the five research and development sites to be launched by the company worldwide in 2011, is expected to employ more than 30 engineers by 2014, it said.

Asia represents 38 percent of Gamesa's global sales now, and Gamesa sees wind energy gaining space in the renewable energy portfolios of many countries, the company said, adding that the future of nuclear energy is now uncertain.

"India is going to increase its investment in wind. China will continue with its very aggressive plan of investing in wind and we will see other countries in Southeast Asia coming on line with wind energy as well," said Jorge Calvet, chairman and chief executive officer of the company.

The Economic Development Board said the laboratory will put Singapore on the map for global wind energy research, though wind energy is now not the advantage for the city state.

The main business of Gamesa is the design, manufacture, installation and maintenance of wind turbines, with around 21,000 megawatts installed in some 30 countries on four continents. The company has 30 production facilities in Europe, the United States, China and India and over 7,200 employees worldwide.