Brazil - Vestas to supply wind turbines with a total generating capacity of 150 MW to wind energy projects in Rio Grande do Norte

Vestas has signed a wind power contract for a total capacity of 150 MW for wind farm projects in Brazil. Wind energy Vestas signs wind turbines order for 150 MW in Brazil. The order comprises 75 units of the 2 MW platform wind turbines for the following wind farm projects: Ventos de Sao Miguelm, Renascença I, Renascença II, Renascença III and Renascença IV located at Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil. The wind energy order has been placed by Energisa S.A. through the companies established for this purpose belonging to the Energisa Group.

The Energisa Group has significant operations in the electricity generation and supply segments in Brazil through its five distributors, including: Energisa Sergipe (SE), Energisa Paraíba (PB), Energisa Borborema (PB), Energisa Minas Gerais (MG) and Energisa Nova Friburgo (RJ).

The contracts includes delivery, transportation, installation and commissioning of the wind turbines, a VestasOnline® Business SCADA system and a five-year service and maintenance agreement with the Active Output Management package ‘AOM 5000’. The AOM 5000 is Vestas’ new service product optimising wind power plant output and minimising customer risk. Since it was officially launched at EWEA 2011 in Brussels earlier this month, this is the very first large AOM 5000 service contract signed worldwide.

Ricardo Botelho, CEO of Energisa S.A. declares: “We are pleased to award this wind energy project to Vestas, the world leader in wind power technology. The 2 MW is a reliable and efficient platform which suits well the wind conditions in Rio Grande do Norte in Brazil, and Vestas is a trustworthy global partner with strong local capabilities and know-how. Therefore, we are confident that they will deliver as agreed.”

“We have opted for the AOM 5000, as it introduces an energy-based guarantee ensuring the wind turbines are fully operational when the wind is blowing. We believe that this service offering will provide us with a higher certainty of energy production and a higher energy output, leading to a more secure return on investment,” concludes the CEO of Energisa S.A.

Delivery of the wind turbines is expected to start in Q1 2012 and the projects are expected to be completed in December 2012.

Carlos R. T. Levy, Managing Director, Vestas Brazil states: “We are very proud to sign this contract with the Energisa Group, which is an important milestone in the development of wind energy in Brazil. We look forward to working closely together with Energisa in the coming years to offer them the highest business case certainty.”

“In the past two years, we have seen an increasing interest in wind in Brazil, as a clean, competitive and predictable energy source. Wind can help Brazil diversify its energy mix complementing the already existing energy sources. Vestas is fully committed to support the Brazilian Government in the achievement of their objectives for wind and to contribute to creating a local industry through the development of a strong network of local suppliers and competencies,” concludes Juan Araluce, President of Vestas Mediterranean.

The wind power plants of this order will produce approx 727.2 GWh per year, which corresponds to an annual emission saving of approx 64,000 tons of CO2 compared with average Brazilian electricity. Furthermore, it will provide enough electricity to cover the annual residential electricity consumption of almost 1.4 million persons in Brazil.

Vestas Mediterranean is one of the seven Sales Business Units in the Vestas Group and it manages all sales, construction and service operations in the countries of the Mediterranean region, Middle East, Latin America, Caribbean as well as approx 70 per cent of the African continent. As of 31 December 2010, this SBU delivered a cumulative capacity of 9,950 MW, representing 22.5 per cent of Vestas’ global capacity. Vestas employs a workforce of 2,900 highly skilled and fully committed employees in the Mediterranean area including production capabilities in Italy and Spain.

As of 31 December 2010, Vestas has delivered to Brazil a total capacity of more than 200 MW. Vestas Brazil is the sales unit responsible for the sales, installation and service and maintenance of wind turbines in Brazil. With the aim of satisfying customers’ needs, Vestas in Brazil is developing a network of local suppliers which are able to deliver products and services during the different phases of the development of a wind farm plant.

Vestas’ AOM 1000-5000 series is based on realising the best possible return on investment for customers’ wind energy assets through an effective infrastructure of diagnostic systems, operational planning, and rigorous implementation. This includes a wide range of service offerings aimed at meeting customers’ service and maintenance needs. The range extends from supporting customers who choose to self-perform service and maintenance to Vestas taking on the full responsibility and risk for the operation of the wind power plant.

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www.vestas.com/en/wind-power-plants/operation-and-service/service

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