The new order has a total capacity of 24 MW and the turbines will be installed in Olhava, Finland. Delivery of the turbines is scheduled to be completed by the end of 2012. The contract includes supply, installation and commissioning of the turbines and a 6-year full-scope active output management agreement.
“We are very pleased that TuuliWatti Oy has shown confidence in the Vestas product and chooses Vestas as a partner for their wind power plant expansions. This second project in Finland is an important step for us to build a leading position in the Finnish market for renewable energy,” says Klaus Steen Mortensen, President of Vestas Northern Europe.
Finland has recently taken steps to enhance the development of renewable energy. A feed-in tariff system for renewable energy was launched earlier this year, and Finland has a renewable energy target to produce 6 TWh from wind power by 2020. This requires a capacity of approx 2,500 MW.
“TuuliWatti Oy has proven that they are a frontrunner in developing wind power in Finland and their partnership and trust means a lot to us. We look forward to a continued close cooperation on the coming project. The Vestas V112-3.0 MW turbines have been the preferred choice since they are an excellent match with the Finnish wind regimes,” says Krister Poole Jönsson, Vice President Sales of Vestas Northern Europe.
“TuuliWatti is strengthening its position as one of the leading wind power investors in Finland. Simo wind park, which will be finished at the end of this year, together with the new Ii-Olhava Project, will bring a total capacity of 42 MW to the market. That equals a 20 per cent increase in the current wind production capacity in Finland. We are very pleased that Vestas is now able to deliver the V112-3.0 MW turbine with 140-metre towers. That allows us to build production and produce wind power even more cost-efficiently”, says Jari Suominen, Managing Director of TuuliWatti Oy.
TuuliWatti Oy is a company established in 2009 as a joint venture between St1 Oy and the S-Group. St1 Oy is a Finnish energy company whose vision is to become the leading producer and seller of CO2-aware energy. The company researches and develops economically viable and environmentally sustainable energy solutions. The S-Group provides services for several trades and has more than 1,600 business locations in Finland, which also places the corporation among the top ten electricity consumers in the country.
Vestas Northern Europe is one of seven Sales Business Units in the Vestas Group. The company manages all sales, construction and service operations for onshore wind turbines in the countries of Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, the Baltic States, Poland, Ireland and the United Kingdom. As of 30 June 2011, Vestas Northern Europe has delivered a cumulative capacity of 6,545 MW, representing 14 per cent of Vestas’ global onshore capacity.
TuuliWatti Oy was established in 2009 as a joint venture by energy company St1 Oy and S-Voima Oy. TuuliWatti Oy represents a new type of company in the Finnish energy market. Wind power projects typically take a long time and the handling of permits has its effect on the timing of the need for resources. The operation of TuuliWatti is based on a cost-effective model, in which the work contributed by the participating companies can be targeted flexibly as needed to the projects as they are advancing. The company’s management consists of representatives of both partner companies.
The V112-3.0 MW was released for sales in August 2010. It is based on proven technology and Vestas’ more than 30 years of experience within manufacturing wind turbines. The V112-3.0 MW is designed for low and medium wind speeds. 80 per cent of a V112-3.0 MW turbine can be recycled and after approx eight months, the wind turbine is energy-neutral, which means that it will contribute to reducing carbon emissions for more than 19 years. During its lifetime, the V112-3.0 MW wind turbine only emits 7 grams of CO2 per kWh, deriving from production and installation of the turbine. By 2015, efficiency must have improved by 15 per cent so that the turbine emits a maximum of 6 grams of CO2 per kWh during its lifetime.
By José Santamarta, www.vestas.com
