GE (NYSE: GE) will supply 28 2.5-100 wind turbines to the French renewable energy asset management company Eolfi Asset Management for two wind park projects in France. The 2.5-100 wind turbines feature outputs of 2.5 megawatts (MW) and 100-meter rotor diameters.
Slated for installation in four villages in the Aube area, 40 kilometers (km) north of Troyes (about 150 km southeast of Paris), the Quatre Vents project will include 14 of the 2.5-100 MW wind turbines. For the second project, GE will install the wind turbines in two villages in Mont d’Arcis. The contracts include the wind turbine manufacturing, shipment, installation and a 10-year, full-service agreement (FSA). The two projects are about 10 km apart, in a region where GE opened a new service center earlier this year.
The Champagne-Ardenne region is well-suited for wind projects because of high winds and the large agricultural area available for installations. It already boasts more than 890 MW of wind energy production, or some 30 percent of the region’s electricity domestic consumption. The two new projects will add to that capacity and will help France reach its goal of having 23 percent of its total energy consumption come from renewables by 2020.
"This contract with Eolfi Asset Management shows the importance of being a local player," says Stephan Ritter, general manager for GE’s Renewable Energy business in Europe. "With our newly opened service center earlier this year, we can provide operation and maintenance at a local level—close to our customer. The 2.5-100 MW wind turbine offers an advanced technology in terms of efficiency, reliability and grid connection capabilities. It delivers the highest annual energy production in its class. The rotor length of 100 meters in combination with GE’s advanced grid integration technology will enable the wind farms to achieve some of the highest reliability and availability standards within Europe."
Eolfi Asset Management signed an agreement with Greensolver for the construction management of the wind parks. Eolfi expects the projects to begin commercial operation in the second half of 2012.
The FSA offered by GE includes all planned maintenance activities such as remote monitoring, routine services, preventative maintenance, onsite support and parts support, as well as unplanned maintenance such as up-tower inspection and repair, condition monitoring and turbine performance and life extension solutions. Page 2 of 2 GE November 3, 2011