Nordex to build largest wind farm in Uruguay

Nordex SE expands its business in South America and reinforces its business relations with the Uruguayan state power company UTE (Usinas y Trasmisiones Electricas), which has placed a contract for the installation of the “Pampa” wind farm. UTE’s project comprises 59 N117/2400 wind turbines, which Nordex will be installing on a turnkey basis. Following construction of the wind farm, the two companies will continue their partnership on a long-term basis under a premium service contract with a duration of minimum ten years.

Nordex will commence infrastructure work on access routes, foundations and cabling etc. in the first half of 2015. The wind farm will go on-line towards mid of 2016 and yield an expected 640 GWh of electricity per year, allowing UTE to provide some 180,000 households with local clean electricity. Nordex will source services and components from a number of local suppliers during the construction as well as the maintenance phase.

The “Pampa” project is located in the largest and thinly populated Department of Tacuarembo in the heart of Uruguay. The project has mean wind speeds of 7.9 metres per second, which will be converted into electricity by Nordex’ N117/2400 wind turbines on towers that are 91 metres tall.

 “Pampa” is being financed together by KfW IMPEX-Bank and Bayerische Landesbank.

“Nordex is very pleased to have been selected as supplier for UTE again”, says Lars Bondo Krogsgaard, a member of Nordex’ Management Board. “UTE is changing Uruguay’s energy landscape at an impressive pace, and we are proud to be allowed to be part of the realization of UTE’s vision”.

To date, Nordex has installed a total of 49 turbines with a combined capacity of almost 120 MW in Uruguay. Capacity of a further 50 MW will be installed alongside the “Pampa” project. Nordex’ activities in Uruguay are conducted through the company’s Montevideo based subsidiary.