Gamesa has signed an agreement with Eolia Renovables de Inversiones to jointly develop several wind energy projects in Mexico, for which Gamesa will supply 100% of the turbines with combined installed capacity of 324 MW.
The deal calls for turnkey construction of the wind farms, including turbine supply, transport, assembly, erection and start-up, and operation and maintenance services during the turbine warranty period. Gamesa will supply a total of 162 of its G9X-2.0 MW turbines to equip the Eoliatec del Istmo (164 MW) and Eoliatec del Pacífico (160 MW) projects in the state of Oaxaca.
The turbines are scheduled for delivery between 2011 and 2013.
The projects are in the state of Oaxaca, one of the world's most promising sites for wind energy generation. Nearly all of the wind farms currently in operation in Mexico are in Oaxaca, along with a large share of the country’s projects under development.
Mexicooffers significant growth potential in the medium and long term. At the end of 2009, the country had 582 MW of installed wind assets, while forecasts (Emerging Energy Research, EER) indicate that Mexico will host 7,000 MW of installed wind capacity by 2025. Mexico’s President, Felipe Calderon, highlighted in his speech to the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP 16) the growth potential of the country, which could generate up to 71,000 MW of wind energy.
Gamesa has a significant presence in Latin America, where it has installed more than 200 MW of wind energy in five countries. The new contract brings its agreements/orders to 740 MW in Honduras, Brazil, Costa Rica and Mexico.
Also in Mexico, the company this year signed a long-term agreement (10 years) to supply 100% of the turbines for wind farms the Cannon Power Group plans to develop in Baja California (combined installed capacity of 1,000 MW).
As a wind farm developer, Gamesa has developed, built and put into operation 26.4 MW in Mexico, and has another 288 MW under development on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, with grid connection rights allocated through the Open Season (Temporada Abierta) process.