First contract for the N117/2400 from France

Nordex is enjoying tail wind from France, having received its first order from this country for the top-selling N117/2400 wind turbine. The order has been placed by project developer VSB Energies Nouvelles, which plans to fit its “Lazenay” wind farm with seven turbines from this series.  The wind farm is located in the heart of France in the Département of Cher, which is characterised by lower wind speeds of around 6 metres per second.

The N117/2400 is specially engineered for such conditions. With its large rotor sweep, it achieves a specific rating of 223 W/m2, which is ideal for making the most efficient use of the kinetic energy of the wind at IEC3 locations. The 16.8 MW wind farm is expected to achieve an annual yield of some 44.5 gigawatt/hours, translating into what in comparison to similar locations is an above-average capacity factor of a good 30 percent. In this way, Nordex has been able to prevail in the face of intensive competition.

Work on the project is scheduled for the second semester of 2014 for a take-over in early 2015. The purchase contract also includes the provision of premium service for a period of 15 years. In addition, the two parties plan to execute further wind farm projects together over the coming months.

“We are pleased to see that the important French market is now also receiving the N117/2400 well,” says Lars Bondo Krogsgaard, a member of Nordex SE’s Management Board.

“VSB is proud of being the first company to install Nordex N117/2400 turbines in France. It is our first contract with Nordex for France, where we intend to start a constructive collaboration together. Thanks to the N117 engine, we are today able to get financial balance for low speed wind farms and optimise our wind farms to follow the coming evolution of the regulation”, says Emmanuel Macqueron, C.E.O. of VSB Energies Nouvelles.

About VSB Energies Nouvelles
VSB énergies nouvelles is a creator of renewable power plants. VSB énergies nouvelles’ s skills cover all the steps of a project from development, legal and financial optimization, construction and operation. With more than 320MW of operation follow-up, VSB is one of the leading development company for wind and photovoltaic in France.