Russia's First Steps into Wind Energy

Russia's wind industry is starting to grow. At the beginning of the month, Vestas has opened its blade factory in Ulyanovsk. The Danish turbine manufacturer has annouced the plan to produce more than 55 units of their 62 meter long blades (each weighing 12 to 13 tons) in 2019. These blades will be used for V124 wind turbines (with a 124 m rotor diameter) of their 4MW platform.

Earlier this year, Vestas has already started operations in their newly-build plant for the production of gondolas while Spain-based company Windar Renewables' plant for the tower production is expected to start production next year. According to the Russian Wind Industry Association RAWI, all these measures are necessary to fulfill the conditions of a special investment contract (SPIC) to consistently localize the production of the wind turbines in Russia.

At the inauguration of Vestas' new plant in Russia (Image: RAWI)

Meanwhile, another well-known name from the wind industry has secured an order for another wind farm: Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy (SGRE) has signed an order from Enel Russia, one of the country's independent power producers (IPP), for the supply of 201 MW of wind turbines. The scope of the agreement includes supply, installation and commissioning of 57 Siemens Gamesa 3.X platform turbines at the Kola wind farm, located in Murmansk region. The Kola wind farm is due to be commissioned in 2021. The contract includes full scope O&M (operation & maintenance) services during the first two years with an option to extend.

“We are proud to announce this second big contract in Russia and to continue the successful cooperation with Enel”, says Steven Pryor, CEO Onshore North Europe & Middle East region at Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. “Siemens Gamesa is well under way to establishing a strong position in the growing Russian renewables market. We have introduced modern technology and we have taken important steps to ensure local content requirements.”