The Heritage agreement calls for installation of 20 MW at the Big Turtle Wind Farm in Michigan; includes a 12-year O&M services agreement

The wind turbine, designed for medium and low-wind sites, has significantly higher capacity factor and reduces the cost of energy by 10%

Gamesa, a global technology leader in wind energy, has signed an agreement for the supply of 20 MW of turbines to the Big Turtle wind farm being developed by Heritage Sustainable Energy in northeast Michigan (US). The deal includes a 12-year operation and maintenance services agreement.

This contract represents a milestone in Gamesa’s sales and product strategy as it marks the debut of its new G114-2.0 MW turbine, designed to yield more power at lower cost at low wind speed sites, in the US market.

“Delivering a low cost of energy is one of the key drivers behind sustained growth in the wind industry. Our G114-2.0 MW model represents an important milestone in the evolution of an already proven technology. Its significantly higher capacity factor reduces the cost of energy by 10 percent and will help keep electricity prices down in Michigan,” according to Gonzalo Onzain, Vice President of Sales for Gamesa in the US.

The ten G114-2.0 MW turbines are scheduled for delivery mid-2014, while the facility is slated for commissioning towards the end of next year. Heritage has already secured a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with DTE Energy under which the latter will buy the power produced by the new wind farm for the next 20 years.

This is the second supply agreement between Gamesa and Heritage; Gamesa has already installed 28 MW of turbines at Heritage’s Garden wind farm, also located in Michigan.

The Gamesa G114-2.0 MW: maximum performance at medium-low wind speeds

The Gamesa G114-2.0 MW wind turbine is a standard-bearer in the sector thanks to its low power density. This new product contributes to one of the company’s top priorities: significantly cutting the cost of energy of Gamesa’s products designed for medium and low-winds sites.

With a rotor spanning 114 metres, the new turbine’s sweep area is 38% greater than that of the G97-2.0 MW, while it produces 20% more energy a year.

The G114-2.0 MW wind turbine, designed to maximise the performance of turbines installed in low-wind sites, is part of the company’s 2.0 MW platform, whose track record encompasses the installation of more than 15 GW worldwide and an availability record of over 98%.

“The G114-2.0 MW is the most competitive turbine in its segment anywhere in the world. Its development represents a significant evolution of the 2 and 2.5 MW turbines that will produce a major game changer in terms of significantly lowering the cost of generating power from wind. A team of Gamesa engineers from multiple disciplines advanced this product enhancement over the past two years, building on the track record accrued from our experience and technological knowledge from the existing 2 MW platform’s millions of operating hours and carrying out the firm’s most extensive component and sub-system validation program to date”, explains José Antonio Malumbres, Chief Technology Officer.