Vestas has received from First Reserve a firm and unconditional order in the United States for 149 V100-2.0 MW wind turbines to be installed at the 298 MW Kingfisher Wind farm project in Oklahoma.
First Reserve, the largest global private equity and infrastructure investment firm exclusively focused on energy, has agreed to acquire the construction-ready 298-MW Kingfisher Wind power generation project from Apex Clean Energy. When complete, Kingfisher is expected to be one of the two largest single-phase wind projects in Oklahoma.
Apex developed the Kingfisher Wind project, will manage construction, and will serve as asset manager during facility operation. Previously, Vestas supplied 49 V100-2.0 MW turbines to Apex for the Hoopeston Wind project in Illinois, which was subsequently acquired by IKEA.
The Kingfisher Wind project enjoys a strong, consistent wind resource. The project is scheduled to be completed in 2015.
The project’s wind turbine order comprises supply and commissioning as well as a 10-year Active Output Management (AOM 5000) service agreement. AOM 5000 includes an energy-based availability guarantee ensuring that turbines are operational when the wind is blowing.
“We are excited to secure our first agreement with First Reserve for the Kingfisher project,” says Chris Brown, President of Vestas’ sales and service division in the United States and Canada. “Driven by high reliability and steadily decreasing cost of energy, wind offers an attractive investment opportunity. The participation by a diversified energy investor such as First Reserve is a sign that our industry is mature and evolving.”
Mark Florian, Managing Director and Head of Infrastructure Funds for First Reserve, commented “First Reserve is pleased to be making one of the initial investments in its second energy infrastructure fund. Kingfisher Wind represents the opportunity to diversify the portfolio of our energy infrastructure program with experienced and reliable counterparties such as Vestas.”
“This transaction highlights Apex’s broad capabilities to deliver turn-key clean energy solutions for our financial partners,” said Mark Goodwin, Apex Clean Energy President. “Apex is excited to continue its involvement in managing all aspects of Kingfisher Wind, from development through asset management.”
Additional information about the project:
| Customer: | First Reserve |
| Project name: | Kingfisher |
| Location/Country: | Oklahoma, USA |
| Number of MW: | 298 MW |
| Number of turbines/turbine type | 149 x V100-2.0 MW |
| Contract type: | Supply-only |
| Contract scope: | The order comprises supply and commissioning of the wind turbines, as well as a 10-year Active Output Management (AOM 5000) service agreement. |
| Time of delivery | Delivery is expected to take place in late 2015. |
Total year-to-date announced order intake in MW: 334 MW
Apex Clean Energy is an independent renewable energy company focused on building utility-scale generation facilities. Apex is building one of the nation’s largest, most-diversified portfolios of renewable energy resources, capable of producing over 10,000 MW of clean energy. Apex has announced over 750 MW of power purchase agreements since 2013. In the coming year, Apex will bring five new U.S. wind energy facilities online, comprising over 1,000 MW of capacity. Apex will provide asset management services on three of these facilities, representing over 500 MW of capacity.
First Reserve is the largest global private equity and infrastructure investment firm exclusively focused on energy. With over 30 years of industry insight, investment expertise and operational excellence, the Firm has cultivated an enduring network of global relationships and raised more than USD $30 billion of aggregate capital since inception. Putting these to work, First Reserve has completed more than 550 transactions (including platform investments and add-on acquisitions) on six continents. Its portfolio companies span the energy spectrum from upstream oil and gas to midstream and downstream, including resources, equipment and services and infrastructure.
Every single day, Vestas wind turbines deliver clean energy that supports the global fight against climate change. Wind power from Vestas’ more than 52,700 wind turbines currently reduces carbon emissions by over 60 million tons of CO2 every year, while at the same time building energy security and independence.
Vestas has delivered wind energy in 73 countries, providing jobs for around 19,300 passionate people at our service and project sites, research facilities, factories and offices all over the world. With 52 per cent more megawatts installed than our closest competitor and more than 64 GW of cumulative installed capacity worldwide, Vestas is the world leader in wind energy.
Vestas sold its first wind turbines in the United States in 1980, and established its North America subsidiary the following year. As of the end of Q3 2014, Vestas had installed 11,879 MW in the US. Approximately 3,000 US employees work in our four Colorado factories, in our sales and service headquarters in Portland, Oregon, and at close to 200 wind sites currently under service contract with Vestas.
