- Category: Projects and Contracts
Over the past few years, it has become increasingly difficult to finance German wind farms. This is partially because of the instruments applied. ‘New methods of finance, such as leasing models, are still not the norm in Germany,’ explains Frank Trauboth, Chairman of the International Project Realization committee at the German Federal Wind Power Association. One example of the new routes being taken is the Roth wind farm, which Nordex AG constructed in the North Eifel region in Germany with funding supplied by a leasing bank. A leasing company provided the capital for the turnkey completion of the wind farm, which comprises a total of 15 turbines with a nominal output of 22.5MW. The equity component was financed by Babcock & Brown, Nordex AG’s final customer. The overall project had a value of around € 25 million. ‘Following the favourable experience gained with lease financing for smallish projects outside Germany, the Roth wind farm is a model for future project financing in Germany for us,’ explains Thomas Richterich, CEO of Nordex AG. The leasing bank also wants to extend this business, particularly in Eastern Europe. However, what is important is that the pilot project proves to be economically viable. Babcock & Brown has entered into a full-service maintenance contract with Nordex.
- Category: Projects and Contracts
Siemens Power Generation has announced an agreement with FPL Energy, the wholesale generation subsidiary of FPL Group Inc., for wind turbines totalling up to 600MW. Siemens will manufacture, install and commission its 2.3MW Mk II wind turbines for FPL Energy. Delivery of the wind turbines will begin in 2006 and support the planned expansion of wind-driven electricity generation projects at FPL Energy.
- Category: Projects and Contracts
REpower Systems AG is one of three German manufacturers participating in the newly established “Foundation for Offshore Wind Energy”. REpower is due to construct four REpower 5M turbines in a test field outside Borkum in 2007 and in the process become involved in an offshore wind park located in German waters for the first time. The park will include a total of 12 turbines. The foundation was established to bundle the interests of as many participants in the offshore wind energy industry as possible. The foundation’s board of trustees is composed of manufacturers such as REpower, organisations and major energy providers, as well as institutions including the German Ministry of the Environment and representatives of the German coastal states. Planning is expected to be concluded as quickly as possible, so as to allow construction of the wind park to begin next year. The first turbines are due to be connected to the grid in 2007.
- Category: Projects and Contracts
REpower Systems AG has been awarded a large order in Portugal. For ENERGI E2 Renovables Ibéricas S.L. – a subsidiary of the Danish utility ENERGI E2 – and its Portuguese partner Eólica São Julião, REpower Portu-gal is to erect a total of 13 2-megawatt wind turbines. The order volume is just un-der € 26 million. The Joguinho II wind park is located in Torres Vedras, to the north of Lisbon and is to be transferred to its operator in the summer of next year. The large project is commencing with the construction of the foundations and the erection of the tower segments for the first two turbines, planned for December this year. The towers are to be produced by Martifer, the joint venture partner and large shareholder at RE-power Systems AG.
- Category: Projects and Contracts
Nordex AG. has obtained its first order to supply variable-speed 1.5 MW turbines to China. At present Nordex is working on orders for four projects in China with a total of 27 turbines. Nordex has been active in China since the mid-90s. In 1998 the company was the first manufacturer to set up a joint venture for the production of wind turbines. In the past we only produced 600 kW machines in China, the larger ones being exported from Europe. China intends to install around 20,000MW by the year 2020. Any company that wants a slice of this market must be able to offer state-of-the-art machines in the upper power class with a local contribution to value added of 70 per cent.
- Category: Projects and Contracts
Airtricity, an Irish company, says it will spend US$ 270 million to build wind farms in West Texas, New York and Idaho. Airtricity has announced that it has agreements with landowners to construct turbines on 23,000 acres (nearly 10,000ha) between Amarillo and Lubbock by the end of 2006. Airtricity plans to build a 125MW wind farm in West Texas. Local officials in eastern Idaho have approved plans for a 100MW wind farm to be built by Airtricity and Ridgeline Energy. In upstate New York, Airtricity is still seeking permission for a 40MW facility. The company raised more than US$ 100 million in private equity last year and plans to borrow 90% of the money needed to buy and install wind turbines, which will be built by a subsidiary of Germany’s Siemens AG and Spain’s Gamesa.
- First wind-generated power plant launched in Bangladesh
- Emu Ltd chooses SeaBat for offshore wind farm surveys
- Acciona Energía will install 793MW
- Large wind project in Alberta
- Trials to reduce aviation objections to wind farms
- Vestas’ expectations for the Italian market have been confirmed
- Gamesa has been awarded five contracts in Italy
- REpower to deliver 19 wind turbines to Japan
- Germany?s largest wind farm portfolios sold
- Final contracts for first Dutch offshore wind farm signed
- Large-scale wind project in China’s Hebei province
- Vestas receives orders for V90 turbines for Spain
- SP and Ashland Sign Distribution Agreement
- Australian government approves new wind farm
- Gamesa receives a new order from Pioneer Asia
- Gamesa continues its wind power expansion in China
- Beatrice wind farm demonstrator project
- London Array offshore wind farm
- Measuring campaign for E.ON Energy Projects
- AREVA to carry out grid connection study
- Turbines for EDF Energies Nouvelles in East Anglia, UK
- Inauguration of Arklow Bank Offshore Wind Park
- New project in India
- US National Weather Service chooses Vaisala wind sensors
- Canunda Wind Farm opened
- REpower supplies first megawatt turbines to China
- Grant for Wind Tower Composites' low speed wind turbine
- Zoltek wins major order for turbine blades
- Order for a V82-1.65 MW wind turbine project in upstate New York
- Order for REpower Systems AG in the UK