Vestas wins 93 MW Turkish wind power order

Vestas and other wind turbine makers struggled in 2009 as orders dried up in the economic crisis, with financing for projects hard to come by.

The order was placed by Agaoglu’s Galata Wind Energy Ltd unit, and deliveries are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of this year and be completed by mid-2011, Vestas Wind Systems A/S said in a statement.

"The wind farm will be located in the Bandyrma province in the northwestern part of Turkey, which is one of the windiest areas in the country," and the wind farm would produce enough electricity for about 52,250 households annually.

The order comprises delivery, transportation and installation of the wind turbines, a VestasOnline® Business SCADA system, as well as a ten-year service and availability agreement. Delivery of the turbines is scheduled to start in Q4 2010 and the project is expected to be completed by mid-2011.

The order has been placed by the Turkish company Galata Wind Energy Ltd. Þti., a subsidiary of the Aðaoðlu Group, one of Turkey’s largest group of companies working within the construction, tourism, service and energy industries.

The project will be located in the Bandýrma province in the north-western part of Turkey, which is one of the windiest areas in the country.

“We are very pleased with this contract, and we look forward to continuing working closely together with the Aðaoðlu Group with whom we have recently finalised the completion of the 33 MW Mersin project located in the Mersin province in southern Turkey,” says Juan Araluce, President of Vestas Mediterranean.

He continues: “Provided that that the Turkish government will offer the support needed to the wind industry through a long-term regulatory framework, Turkey has the possibility to achieve the country’s goals for 20231 30 per cent of Turkey’s electricity production is to come from renewable energy resources by 2023 with 20,000 MW of wind power installed, according to BTM Consult – March 2010. Being the world leader in wind technology, Vestas is fully committed to support the expansion of the wind energy market in Turkey.”

The wind power plant will produce approximately 333,000 MWh per year, saving the environment from almost 160,000 tons of CO2 on an annual basis. Furthermore, it will provide enough electricity to power 52,250 Turkish households annually.

Vestas installed its first wind turbine in the Turkish market in 1984. In January 2008, Vestas established an office in Istanbul, which is responsible for all sales, construction and service operations in Turkey and the Middle East. The office currently employs more than 50 people, and as per 31 December 2009, Vestas has installed 107 turbines equivalent to a capacity of 280 MW in Turkey.

Every single day, Vestas wind turbines deliver clean energy that supports the global fight against climate change. Wind power from Vestas turbines currently reduces carbon emissions by more than 40 million tons of CO2 every year, while at the same time building energy security and independence.

Vestas is the world leader in wind technology, with a history of technological innovation and over 30 years of experience in developing, manufacturing, installing and maintaining wind turbines. Vestas was a pioneer in the wind industry and started to manufacture wind turbines in 1979. In 1987, the company began to concentrate exclusively on wind energy.

www.vestas.com