Reported by Staff

REpower USA Lands Order for Michigan Project

DENVER - Wind-energy company REpower USA Corp., which recently moved its U.S. headquarters to the Mile High City,  has signed a contract to supply nine wind turbines for a Michigan wind-farm project. The contract with project developer Heritage Sustainable Energy, LLC calls for REpower to initially deliver nine 2-megawatt MM92 wind turbines with a total output of 18.45 MW.

REpower USA is a subsidiary of German wind-turbine manufacturer REpower Systems AG. The company told Colorado Energy News earlier this year that it plans to relocate or hire 25 employees for its Denver headquarters operation, and possibly double its staff here in about a year. (DBJ report.)

REpower’s turbines will be used at the Stoney Corners II wind farm project near McBain, Mich., for power generation sold to Detroit Edison under a 20-year power purchase agreement. The turbines are expected to be installed by the third quarter of next year.

While not disclosing the terms of the contract, the turbine company said the contract provides an option for delivery of another 10 REpower turbines by September 2010, the company said.

Per Hornung Pedersen, CEO of REpower Systems AG, added: “We are delighted to renew our collaboration with Heritage. Although the U.S. wind energy market has been restrained this year, we are convinced that the long-term growth forecasts will stand the test of time.”

To date, REpower USA Corp. has installed or sold more than 320 wind turbines in the United States, with a total output of more than 600 MW.

RES Americas Completes Wild Horse Project

Broomfield-based–Renewable Energy Systems Americas Inc. (RES Americas), has announced the substantial completion of the Wild Horse Expansion Wind Project on November 9th.  The 44 megawatt (MW) project, in Kittitas County Washington, expands the existing Wild Horse Wind Facility from 229 MW to 273 MW through the addition of 22 Vestas V80 2.0 MW wind turbines.   

RES America Construction Inc. served as the Balance of Plant (BOP) construction contractor. The project owner and developer, Puget Sound Energy (PSE), engaged RES Americas after the successful completion of the original Wild Horse Wind Facility.  

“Wild Horse Expansion Wind Project continues our successful relationship with Puget Sound Energy and we look forward to working on future projects together.” said Chris Hills, VP of Construction Projects for RES Americas.  “

Wild Horse Expansion Project will be capable of powering an additional 11,800 Washington homes, bringing the capability of the entire Wild Horse Wind Facility to approximately 70,000 average American homes.  

Read more details about the project in this CEN post.

10 New Suzlon Turbines Heading for Community-Based Minnesota Project

CHICAGO - Suzlon Wind Energy Corp., the North American subsidiary of Suzlon Energy Limited announced a new order for the community-based Grant County Wind Farm in southwestern Minnesota. Developed by Juhl Wind (Juhl) of Woodstock, Minn., the project consists of 10 Suzlon S88 wind turbines and at full capacity will produce 20 megawatts, enough energy to power 7,000 homes in the area.

The Grant County Wind Farm is a Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED) project and is partially owned by local farmers. C-BED is an initiative in Minnesota that fosters the development of renewable energy by optimizing local and regional agricultural and economic resources. This often allows for interconnection of smaller renewable energy systems to the larger power grid and cost-sharing, creating a stable market for renewable energy.

The project is interconnected with Otter Tail Power Company, and Northern States Power (NSP) is purchasing the clean energy. 

“The Grant County Wind Farm is a great example of a community-led initiative for renewable energy,” said Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association. “The perks of wind power aren’t exclusive to developers and utilities alone; this project shows how citizens can save money and be more energy efficient through their own renewable energy projects.”

Construction on the site has already begun. The wind farm is expected to be in commercial operation in the first quarter of 2010.