Gamesa, a global technology leader in wind energy, has bolstered its presence in Latin America after venturing into a new market, Nicaragua, with a contract to build, deliver and install a 44-MW wind farm as a turnkey project for Eolo de Nicaragua, S.A., owned by Globeleq Mesoamerica Energy (Wind) Limited, a subsidiary of Globeleq Generation Limited and Mesoamerica Power Ltd.
Gamesa will install 22 of its G90 wind turbines, each with capacity of 2 MW, which it will manufacture in Spain and the United States during 2012. The wind farm, in the town of Rivas, is on the shore of Lake Nicaragua in south-western Nicaragua.
Pursuant to the agreement, Gamesa will also develop all necessary infrastructures for the project's construction and operation, including an electricity substation, a high-tension line and the site's connection to the power grid. Furthermore, it will carry out operation and maintenance (O&M) services at the wind farm for a period of 10 years.
For the second time, Gamesa will work with Globeleq, after completing the Cerro de Hula project (102 MW), in Honduras, the Central America's largest wind farm.
Nicaraguais an emerging wind energy market which offers promising growth opportunities for this energy source. The country currently has one installed wind farm, with capacity of 63 MW, plus two more under development - including the site Gamesa will build - which will amount to another 83.6 MW by the end of this year.
Latin America, 30% of Gamesa's sales in the first quarter
Gamesa's first contract in Nicaragua bolsters the company's presence in Latin America, one of the group's main growth markets in the short and medium term. Latin America accounted for 30% of the MW sold in the first quarter of this year, thanks primarily to orders from Brazil and Mexico.
In addition to this deal, Gamesa has received orders totalling 236 MW in Latin America since the beginning of this year, from customers in countries including Brazil, Mexico, Uruguay and the Dominican Republic.