Vestas receives 400 MW order in U.S. state of Nebraska

With reference to Vestas Wind Systems A/S’ company announcement No. 18/2015 of 30 April 2015, Vestas has received a firm and unconditional order in the United States for 200 V110-2.0 MW turbines for the Grande Prairie wind farm in Holt County, Nebraska.  In megawatt terms, the project will be Vestas’ largest single-phase project ever in the United States. 

The order was placed by BHE Renewables, LLC, an affiliate of Berkshire Hathaway Energy, which owns a portfolio of energy businesses including the U.S. utilities PacifiCorp, MidAmerican Energy Company and NV Energy. 

The announcement marks the first turbine supply contract that BHE Renewables and Vestas have executed.  Berkshire Hathaway Energy’s businesses own wind projects representing more than 4 gigawatts of wind across the West and Midwest. 

Chris Brown, President of Vestas’ sales and service division in the United States and Canada, is encouraged by the new relationship.  “BHE Renewables is a major player in the U.S. wind sector.  Their parent company is well known and respected for its long-term investments in fundamentally sound industries,” Brown said. “We’re extremely pleased that they have chosen our workhorse turbine, the V110-2.0 MW, for Grande Prairie.”

Tom Budler, President of the wind division of BHE Renewables, commented “We are pleased to be utilizing Vestas as the sole provider of turbines for the Grande Prairie project.  When completed, Grande Prairie will be the largest wind project in Nebraska and will have a major impact on Nebraska’s economy and energy future.”

The project’s scope includes supply and commissioning of the wind turbines as well as a five-year Active Output Management (AOM5000) service agreement, which is designed to maximize energy production. Deliveries are expected to being in the second quarter of 2016, with project completion expected by the end of 2016.