Energy, Utilities & Water  April 29, 2015

Vestas wins 78-megawatt turbine order for Minnesota wind farm

Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems A/S, which has plants in Windsor and Brighton, has received a 78-megawatt turbine order for a wind project in Minnesota, the company announced late Tuesday.

The order from Sempra U.S. Gas & Power is for 39 units of Vestas’ V110-2.0 MW turbine, to be deployed in the Black Oak Getty wind farm in Stearns County. The area in central Minnesota receives an average wind speed of 16 miles per hour.

The contract includes delivery, installation and commissioning of the wind turbines, as well as a five-year service agreement, Vestas said. Delivery is expected to take place around this time next year, the company said, with commissioning expected in late 2016.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Solar Operations and Maintenance for Commercial Properties

One key qualification to consider when selecting a solar partner to install your system is whether they have an Operations and Maintenance (O&M) or service department. Since solar is a long-term asset with an expected lifecycle of 30 plus years, ongoing O&M should be considered up front. A trusted O&M partner will maximize your system’s energy output and therefor the return on your investment.

In general, wind-turbine orders give Vestas average revenue of around 94 cents per megawatt.

Once completed, the Black Oak Getty wind farm will generate enough renewable energy to power approximately 30,000 Minnesota homes, Vestas said. The entire power output from the wind farm has been sold to Minnesota Municipal Power Agency under a 20-year contract.

“We are happy to partner with Sempra U.S. Gas & Power as they expand their renewable portfolio and bring more clean energy to the people of Minnesota,” said Chris Brown, president of Vestas’ sales and service division in the United States and Canada. “The workhorse … turbine that has been selected for the Black Oak Getty wind farm has a strong track record of performance and reliability, and we are confident it will meet expectations for this project.”

Vestas announced last month that it would add 400 jobs to its blade factory at 1140 Eastman Park Drive in Windsor.

Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas Wind Systems A/S, which has plants in Windsor and Brighton, has received a 78-megawatt turbine order for a wind project in Minnesota, the company announced late Tuesday.

The order from Sempra U.S. Gas & Power is for 39 units of Vestas’ V110-2.0 MW turbine, to be deployed in the Black Oak Getty wind farm in Stearns County. The area in central Minnesota receives an average wind speed of 16 miles per hour.

The contract includes delivery, installation and commissioning of the wind turbines, as well as a five-year service agreement, Vestas said. Delivery is expected to take…

Dallas Heltzell
With BizWest since 2012 and in Colorado since 1979, Dallas worked at the Longmont Times-Call, Colorado Springs Gazette, Denver Post and Public News Service. A Missouri native and Mizzou School of Journalism grad, Dallas started as a sports writer and outdoor columnist at the St. Charles (Mo.) Banner-News, then went to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch before fleeing the heat and humidity for the Rockies. He especially loves covering our mountain communities.
Sign up for BizWest Daily Alerts