BayWa r.e. completes construction of 250 MW wind farm

Located northwest of Abilene in Rotan, the 250 MW wind farm has begun selling power into the grid and will generate enough clean, renewable energy to meet the electricity needs of more than 74,800 homes annually. Amadeus is the largest onshore wind project completed to date in BayWa r.e.’s global portfolio. 

Amadeus consists of 96 GE wind turbines deployed across nearly 25,000 acres of federal, state and privately held lands. Over the lifetime of the plant, it will provide millions of dollars in tax benefits to the local community. The wind farm will also reduce the need for power generated from fossil fuels and will keep over 648,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide greenhouse gases from being released into the atmosphere each year. 

“We are grateful to all the stakeholders that worked hard to make this project a success, despite this year’s profound global challenges,” said Florian Zerhusen, CEO of BayWa r.e. Wind LLC. 

Amadeus brought together some of the leading names in project financing, tax equity and asset ownership. Commerzbank, one of Germany’s largest financial institutions, financed the construction loan for the project. Morgan Stanley is purchasing the energy from the plant under the terms of a 10-year hedge agreement. The tax equity funding was provided by BHE Renewables while Fengate has taken a cash equity position and will jointly own the wind farm with BayWa r.e., which will continue to manage the asset.

“Fengate is very pleased to invest in Amadeus, and we look forward to our ongoing collaboration with BayWa r.e., a proven operating partner and industry leader,” said Greg Calhoun, Managing Director, Infrastructure Investments, Fengate. “This significant and strategically located wind project provides a new and important source of clean energy.”

“We are well underway with construction on our next project in California,” added Zerhusen. “Combined with a very well-developed pipeline, this allows us to continue delivering strong value for our investors and stakeholders moving forward.”

Despite the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. wind installations are on pace for a record year, according to the latest market data from the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). Annual installations were up 72% year-over-year through the end of the third quarter. AWEA cites strong market fundamentals and consumer demand as the main drivers of U.S. wind development, with wind offering the most affordable source of new electricity generation in many parts of the country.