Wind energy in Ireland: Nordex prevailing again in the high-wind power segment

Nordex has been awarded a contract for the delivery and assembly of seven high-wind turbines for the Irish “Glenough 2” and “Gibbett Hill” projects. “Glenough 2” entails an extension to an existing 32.5 MW wind farm, which Nordex previously also built, while “Gibbett Hill” is a new 15 MW wind farm. The two projects are located in the south of the Republic of Ireland at windy elevated sites.

 

In both cases, the customer, wind farm developer ABO Wind, has opted for the N90/2500 turbine, which is optimally configured for these locations with wind speeds of approximately 9 m/s. The annual yield of the seven turbines has been calculated at around 70 GWh, translating into an above-average capacity factor of a good 45 percent.

 

Wiesbaden-based project developer ABO Wind has been working closely with Nordex for many years. “In view of our favourable experience with the company and its products, we have decided to also install these turbines in Ireland together with Nordex,” says Dr. Jochen Ahn, a member of the management Board of ABO Wind AG and its founder. Together with the recent projects, the installed capacity of all wind farms which ABO Wind has installed in Ireland using Nordex turbines will come to 70 megawatts. “Alongside Germany and France, Ireland figures amongst ABO Wind’s most important markets,” he adds.

 

Work on the project is to be completed in December 2012 (Glenough 2) and May 2013, respectively. The order also includes a premium-service contract for an initial period of five years.

 

ABO Wind plans and installs turn-key wind parks and is one of the pioneers of wind power in Germany. Back in 1996, Dr. Jochen Ahn and Matthias Bockholt established the company in Wiesbaden, Germany, out of their enthusiasm for wind power and their desire to make a contribution to climate protection. With around 200 employees, ABO Wind is currently active in seven European countries as well as South America. ABO Wind initiates wind farm projects, buys sites and performs all technical and business planning as well as preparing the bank finance. It offers private individuals a profitable means of investing in renewable energies, particularly in the form of the ABO Invest wind share (WKN A1EWXA), which is listed on the stock exchanges of Düsseldorf and Frankfurt.

 

As one of the technological leaders in multi-megawatt wind power systems, Nordex is benefiting from the trend in favour of large-scale turbines. The range comprises one of the world’s largest series-produced wind power systems (N90/2500, N100/2500, N117/2400). To date, over 1,800 turbines of this type have been installed around the world. This experience with multi-megawatt turbines gives Nordex a decisive lead over most of its competitors. Nordex has installed a total of around 4,900 turbines with an aggregate capacity of more than 7,500 MW all around the world. With exports accounting for more than 85 percent of its business, Nordex SE plays a key role in international high-growth regions. The Company has offices and subsidiaries in 22 countries around the world with a total global headcount of over 2,500 employees.