Wind energy in Italy: Vestas signs 56 MW wind power order

Vestas has received an order for a total capacity of 56 MW consisting of 28 units of the V90-2.0 MW platform for the “Castellaneta” wind farm, which will be located in the Apulia region, Italy.

The contract comprises supply and installations of the turbines, a VestasOnline® Business SCADA system, as well as a 12-year service and maintenance AOM 4000 agreement (Active Output Management). The AOM 4000 is a full-scope service contract, consisting of scheduled and unscheduled maintenance and consumables, which offers solid risk management for customers, who want an availability guarantee measured against an agreed threshold. This type of contract offers customers assured performance avoiding unforeseen operational costs of any kind.

The order has been placed by Tozzi TRE S.p.A. a company of the Tozzi Holding Group that develops and manages renewable energy generating plants. The company, which has been building wind, hydro, photovoltaic and biomass power plants, has an installed wind base of about 250 MW.

Delivery of the first turbines is expected to start during the second quarter of 2012 and the project is expected to be commercially operational before the end of 2012.

“The 2 MW platform is the industry’s most proven turbine ‘family’ with more than 9,300 installations worldwide. This means high reliability, low operational downtime and high performance,” declares Juan Araluce, Vestas Mediterranean President and recently appointed Global Chief Sales Officer, Vestas Wind Systems A/S. “We are glad to provide our expertise to Tozzi TRE S.p.a. and to start up a new business relationship in Italy, based on the companies’ shared values and missions.”

"It is a pleasure for us to announce the first order received from Tozzi TRE S.p.A. and we look forward to a fruitful cooperation in the future," states Rainer Karan, Managing Director of Vestas Italia, "There is still a great potential for further development across Italy, which can bring green renewable energy, as well as employment and economic benefits to local communities."

The "Castellaneta" wind power plant will produce approx 162,000 MWh per year, which corresponds to an annual saving of 63,000 tons of CO2 emissions. Furthermore, it will provide enough electricity to cover the residential electricity consumption of more than 143,000 people in Italy.

Every single day, Vestas wind turbines deliver clean energy that supports the global fight against climate change. Wind power from Vestas’ more than 46,000 wind turbines currently reduces carbon emissions by approximately 50 million tons of CO2 every year, while at the same time building energy security and independence. Today, Vestas has installed turbines in 69 countries, and for our own operations alone we provide jobs for over 20,000 passionate people at our service and project sites, research facilities, factories and offices all over the world.

Vestas has been operating in the Italian market since 1998 through the company Vestas Italia which is the sales unit in Vestas Mediterranean handing all sales operations and maintenance activities in Italy. The Italian sales unit is also responsible for the business development activities in the markets of Switzerland, the Balkans, Libya, Egypt and Jordan.

Vestas Italia’s headquarters and main sales office are located in Rome. The company also has an operations office in Taranto, a customer service centre in San Giorgio, as well as service and logistics facilities spread all over the country and on the main islands. In addition, Vestas currently has two production facilities for blades and nacelles for the V52 and the V90 in Taranto. For all the coverage, Vestas employs more than 700 people in Italy to meet the customers’ needs and be ahead of the industry.

Having delivered 2,664 MW in Italy by 31 December 2011, and with a well-structured service and maintenance organisation, Vestas is the most experienced partner within the wind energy industry in Italy.

Wind power in Italy

1997: 103 MW
1998: 178 MW
1999: 283 MW
2000: 427 MW
2001: 682 MW
2002: 785 MW
2003: 904 MW
2004: 1,265 MW
2005: 1,718 MW
2006: 2,123 MW
2007: 2,726 MW
2008: 3.736 MW
2009: 4,850 MW
2010: 5.797 MW
2011: 6.747 MW

www.vestas.com