At 30 September 2009, EDF Energies Nouvelles’ installed capacity all segments combined amounted to 2,624.5 MW gross (1,795.1 MW net), plus another 1,022.3 MW under construction (653.6 MW net).
Wind energy capacity grew by 347.6 MW gross (up 227.2 MW net) during the first nine months of the year to reach 2,378 MW gross. New wind farms were commissioned in the United States (150 MW), France (67 MW), Greece (38 MW), Italy (32 MW), Belgium (30 MW), Portugal (20 MW) and Turkey (18 MW).
New wind energy capacity under construction stood at 860.2 MW at 30 September 2009. During the fourth quarter, installed capacity is expected to post a strong increase.
Solar energy came to 27.6 MWp gross (19 MWp net) at 30 September 2009. The pace of new construction accelerated with the launch of 132.9 MWp in gross capacity over the first nine months of the year. The projects are chiefly located in France, Italy, Canada, Spain and Greece. The Group thus had 183.4 MWp in gross capacity (129.8 MWp net) in service or under construction at 30 September, thereby exceeding the target of 100 MWp to 150 MWp set for year-end 2009.
Revenues in Europe moved up 37% to €418 million owing notably to the dynamism of the Generation business (up 39.8%). The Group benefited from the full-year impact of the wind farms commissioned during 2008 chiefly in France and Portugal, as well as the ground-based and roof array solar facilities commissioned in France and Italy. The Generation business was also boosted by new plants commissioned during 2009 in both the wind power and solar segments. The Distributed Energies business, which posted a 52.1% increase in revenues to €169 million, also contributed to the region’s strong performance.
Revenues in the Americas posted a 10.2% decline to €290.6 million. Excluding the DSSA business – which was up against unfavourably high comparatives – the region’s revenues rose 54.8% owing to the Generation business’ strong performance (+43.8%). In spite of unfavourable wind conditions, notably in the third quarter, the business was boosted by the commissioning of the Wapsi North wind farm (100.5 MW gross) in December 2008 and the Shiloh II facility (150 MW gross) in February 2009. The region’s revenues were also underpinned by the very strong expansion in the Operations & Maintenance business (revenues up 90.7%).
The revenues recorded by the Generation business grew by 40.7% to €226.4 million on the back of strong levels of wind and solar energy generation (up 52.6%). In spite of poor wind conditions, generation of wind and solar energy was bolstered by the full-year impact of the facilities commissioned during 2008 and those that entered service during the first nine months of 2009 (increase of 354.4 MW gross). The biomass business, which recorded a sharp rise of 137.8%, also contributed to growth in Generation revenues following the complete return to operations of the Lucena plant in Spain.
Revenues posted by the Operations & Maintenance business surged from €14.5 million to €28.2 million, representing a rise of 94.5%. This strong growth was driven by the dynamism of this business in the United States where enXco signed several contracts in 2008 and the first nine months of 2009 covering 2,525 MW in capacity.
Revenues from the Development and Sale of Structured Assets (DSSA) business declined by 16.7% to €285 million held back by unfavourable comparatives as 2008 was a record year with the sale in the United States of three large-scale wind farms (Walnut, Grand Meadows and Goodnoe) with a total of 347.5 MW in capacity. Over the first nine months of 2009, the principal sales involved the Crane Creek (99 MW) wind farm, part of the Spearville II (48 MW) facility and the Fierville wind farm in Europe (28 MW). During the fourth quarter, the DSSA business will benefit from a portion of the sale proceeds from the Linden wind farm (50 MW) in the United States, as well as the sale of the Mangassaye (5.1 MWp) solar farm on Reunion Island. It will also be underpinned by the first sales of farm warehouses fitted with solar panels in France.
Revenues from the Distributed Energies business recorded a sharp rise of 52.1% to €169 million. Sales of solar systems to individuals and businesses (EDF ENR and Photon Technologies) continued to ramp up with revenues over the first nine months of the year reaching €67.8 million (up from €5.1 million in the equivalent period of the previous year). Over 2,200 photovoltaic systems were installed in existing homes during the period, compared with around 1,000 installations over 2008 as a whole. Tenesol’s revenues decreased by 13.7% to €52.3 million, while Supra’s contribution came to €46.4 million, up 8% compared with the previous year.
OTHER THIRD-QUARTER HIGHLIGHTS
• enXco, the US subsidiary of EDF Energies Nouvelles, entered into a power purchase agreement in July with US utility Indianapolis Power & Light (IPL). The 20-year agreement covers the electricity that will be generated by the Lakefield (201 MW) wind farm. Construction of this facility, which is located in south-western Minnesota, is due to be completed by the end of 2010.
• EDF Energies Nouvelles and First Solar Inc. signed a strategic partnership agreement to build France’s largest solar panel manufacturing plant. The plant, which will have an initial capacity of over 100 MWp p.a., will produce solar panels using First Solar’s thin-film photovoltaic technology. EDF Energies Nouvelles will fund half of the capital investment and plant start-up costs and in return will benefit from the plant’s entire output for the first ten years.
• enXco, EDF Energies Nouvelles’ US subsidiary, launched the construction of the Linden wind farm in Washington state on behalf of a third party. The 50 MW facility is due to be delivered to US power company Southern California Public Power Authority (SCPPA) in early 2010.
OUTLOOK
EDF Energies Nouvelles confirms its year-end 2012 target of 4,000 MW in net installed capacity, including 500 MWp in solar capacity. The Group also confirms its 2009 EBITDA target of between €280 million and €300 million.
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