Wind Energy

BP Wind Energy Builds Its First Wind Farm in Hawaii

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power and BP Wind Energy will jointly develop the 21 MW Auwahi Wind farm in Hawaii. The wind farm will use eight Siemens (NYSE: SI) wind turbines.

Initial construction activities are underway and full mobilization at the site is slated to begin by the end of the second quarter 2012. The project is expected to be in commercial operation by year-end 2012. The balance of plant contract has been awarded to RMT WindConnect.

Sempra U.S. Gas & Power will continue to develop Auwahi and operate the project once construction is complete. Maui Electric Co. signed a long-term power purchase agreement for the entire output.

Auwahi will also use an 11 MW A123 Systems (NASDAQ: AONE) battery storage unit capable of storing in excess of 4 MWh of electricity.

In January 2012, BP and Sempra U.S. Gas & Power announced an expansion of their strategic relationship by jointly investing more than $1 billion to build 560 MW of wind power, including the 419 MW Flat Ridge 2 in Kansas along with a 51 MW expansion, and the 141 MW Mehoopany project in Pennsylvania. Both projects are expected to be operational by year-end 2012. The companies are also equal partners on the 200 MW Fowler Ridge 2 Wind Farm in Indiana and the 250 MW Cedar Creek 2 Wind Farm in Colorado.

www.bp.com