Optiflame: Russian wind power company opens U.S. office at Science Center, chose Philly for clean-tech sector

Russian wind power company Optiflame is opening up shop in Philly’s University City Science Center, the Center announced earlier this month.

Optiflame, which consists of a 12-person team based in St. Petersburg, Russia, will work in the Bullpen, the Science Center’s coworking space, at its Port Business Incubator. Two to three employees will develop technology for small wind turbines here in Philly, says Optiflame founder Vladimir Kanin.

The company will then decide if the turbines should be assembled in the United States. If Optiflame builds its turbines here, Kanin says its Philly staff could grow to more than 40 people. He didn’t have a specific timeline for Optiflame’s tenure in the city but says it will stay as long as it makes sense for the company.

And the million-dollar question: Why Philly?

There were no tax breaks to sweeten the deal, Kanin says, though he would be interested in hearing about appropriate ones. He was more impressed with the city’s dedication to clean technology, adding that the Energy Efficient Buildings Hub (formerly the Greater Philadelphia Innovation Cluster) was part of his decision “with no doubt.”