China

Gamesa to launch wind power project in Shandong Province
24 June 2008

The first ever wind farm project has been approved for the Shandong Province in China, and will provide 49.5 MW of capacity. The wind farm, which will be located in the Taiping Mountain area, will be launched by Spanish firm Gamesa.

Press release


REpower China to supply Baolihua's offshore equipment
26 June 2008
Baolihua New Energy Stock in China has signed an agreement with REpower China for the supply of 24 turbines of 2 MW capacity. The turbines will be used in an offshore project with a planned capacity of 1,250 MW. The contract is worth EUR 38.4 million.

Press release


Denmark

Green Wind Energy on Stock Exchange
24 June 2008

In order to attract new investments in wind power, Danish company Green Wind Energy has become listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange as of June this year. To start with, shares will be issued to a group of targeted investors, but this will be opened up to all the market in 2009. The aim is to attract a minimum of EUR 134 million of investment, and to make the company the biggest energy firm in Denmark, while dealing only with renewables.

More information

Vestas receives orders from Spain
15 July 2008

Danish wind turbine producer Vestas has received an order for 25 V90 turbines of 2 MW and 16 V80 turbines of 1.8 MW. The turbines are to be used for two wind power projects in Spain. The contract is for delivery and five years of service.

Company announcement


Finland

WinWinD wins EUR 60 million wind turbine orders
16 June 2008

Wind Green Energy in Estonia and Skellefteå Kraft in Sweden will both get 3 MW wind turbines from Finnish wind turbine supplier WinWinD in deals worth a total of EUR 60 million. The Estonian wind farm will have a capacity of 24 MW, and the Swedish of 30 MW.

Read news item


France

EDF-EN develops 50.6 MW wind farm
09 July 2008

One of the biggest capacity wind farms yet will be built in the French region of Aude by EDF’s renewables branch, EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF-EN). Germany company Enercon will supply the 22 wind turbines that will make up the 50.6 MW farm. EDF-EN also plans to develop two other new wind farms in France this year, of 87 MW and 52 MW.

Press release (in French)


Germany

Vattenfall to invest in alternative energies
01 July 2008

Vattenfall Europe Mining & Generation, which operates brown coal mines and coal-fired power stations, has announced plans for projects to support a sustainable development in the Lausitz region in Germany, entailing an investment of EUR 20 million. The plans include a 50 MW capacity wind farm to be built on areas of the Jänschwalde open cast mine. The aim is for the wind farm to be ready by 2015.

Read article (in German)


Greece

Spanish companies aiming high in Greece
02 July 2008

The Spanish renewable energy firm, Iberdrola Renovables, has launched a takeover bid on Greek wind energy firm, Rokas, for EUR 175 million. The Spanish firm already controls 52.7% of Rokas's ordinary shares and 47.3% of its preferential shares. If the Greek stock market regulator gives the go ahead, Iberdrola’s installed wind power in Greece will be brought to a total of 217MW.

Moreover, Spanish company Acciona Energy is set to invest around EUR 500 million in Greece's wind energy industry in the next five years. Currently, Acciona has a total installed capacity of just 36 MW in the country, although an additional 16MW is under construction. Acciona is aiming for 350MW of installed capacity in Greece by 2012.

Press release


Ireland

Airtricity to supply Caterpillar factories
03 July 2008

As part of its vow to slash its CO2 emissions, US construction equipment manufacturer Caterpillar has switched electricity suppliers for its manufacturing sites in Northern Ireland to Irish wind power group Airtricity, a subsidiary of UK power group Scottish and Southern Energy. This change to wind power will reduce Caterpillar’s carbon emissions by 11,000 tonnes annually.

Press release


Italy

Airtricity in joint venture with Entropya
04 July 2008

Wind farms with a capacity of more than 2,000 MW are being developed in southern Italy. The business will be a joint 60/40 venture between Airtricity and Italian wind farm development company Entropya.

Press release


Latvia

Government launches wind power tender
June 2008

The Latvian Ministry of the Economy has launched a call for tenders to provide an annual 404,000 MWh of electricity from wind power between 2010 and 2019, which would require new wind farms with a capacity of about 135 MW – up from the country’s current total of 27 MW. The Latvian Wind Energy Association has welcomed the call for tenders, but points out that the contract length and the lack of grid connection could be a problem.


Poland

DONG Energy invests in new wind farm
25 June 2008

Danish power company DONG Energy is investing EUR 59.41 million in a wind farm in Karnice, Poland, near to the DONG-operated Lake Ostrowo wind farm. DONG Energy is also involved in the Storrun onshore wind farm in Sweden, the Horns Rev II wind farm in the North Sea by Denmark, and Gunfleet Sands I and II and Walney in the UK.

News item


Spain

Wind energy producers to install 1,800MW in 2008
25 June 2008

According to AEE, the Spanish wind energy association, 1,800 MW will be installed in the country in 2008, bringing the total wind energy output to 17,000 MW. By 2020, the total wind energy output in Spain is expected to reach 40,000 MW, accounting for 34% of the country's electricity demand, up from 12% in 2008. Spanish premier Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero has announced that his government will focus on promoting renewable energy rather than alternatives such as nuclear energy in the future.

News article

Iberdrola Renovables puts 851MW into operation
04 July 2008

According to Chief Executive Ignacio Sanchez Galan, Iberdrola’s renewable energy division Iberdrola Renovables put 851MW of wind power into operation during the first half of the 2008, and is currently building a further 1,686MW. Iberdrola Renovables currently has a project portfolio of 54,000MW, 12,000MW more than at the end of 2007. The company is expected to increase its power capacity by 30% to 9,000 MW by the end of 2008 and is aiming for 18,000 MW by 2012.

Press release


Sweden

Enercon to help build Swedish wind farm
16 June 2008

Enercon of Germany is to set up a production plant in northern Sweden that will provide 150-200 new jobs. The plant is to produce concrete towers for the Markbygden wind farm to be built in Piteå, which will have an installed capacity of 3,000 to 3,500 MW. The plant is to be finished by 2020. Enercon will also set up a local maintenance and service station for the wind farm.

Press release

Wind power investments on the increase
15 July 2008

Wind power investments are increasing successively in Sweden, according to a report by Svensk Vindkraft. In 2007, wind power plants with a total capacity of 217 MW were put into operation, compared with a previous annual trend of 50-60 MW. The capacity of the wind power plants to be put online in 2008 is estimated at over 300 MW, and from 2009 and onwards about 500 MW per year. One such new wind farm is currently being planned by Res Skandinavien on the mountain Tåsjöberget between towns Dorotea and Strömsund. Production should begin in 2009.


UK

EDF EN commissions 14 MW Walkway wind farm
04 July 2008

French energy firm EDF Energies Nouvelles (EDF EN), has recently commissioned a 14 MW wind farm in County Durham, UK. The Walkway wind farm will have seven wind turbines, to be supplied by REpower. The commissioning of the wind farm takes EDF EN's gross capacity in service in the UK to 117 MW, with a further 88 MW of capacity in wind farms under construction.

Press release

RES gets green light for planned wind farm
07 July 2008

Renewable Energy Systems’ (RES) plans to build a 34-turbine wind farm in Keadby, North Lincolnshire have been given the go-ahead. Originally, the farm was to contain 55 wind turbines, but this was reduced following local opposition.

Original press release


US

GE pledges funds to New York wind farms
09 July 2008

General Electric Energy Financial Services has pledged US$100 million (EUR 63.77million) to three wind farms in New York state, with its investment due to come to an end in the final quarter of 2008. GE will invest equity as the non-managing member of the farms - the managing member will be wind energy developer Noble Environmental Power. In the past five months, GE Energy Financial Services has invested around US$1billion in renewable energy schemes.

Press release

Iberdrola constructing Minnesota wind farm
12 July 2008

Iberdrola Renewables has begun construction of a 99MW Elm Creek Wind Power Project in southwestern Minnesota for Great River Energy. It will use 66 turbines of 1.5 MW capacity, provided by GE. Great River Energy offers wholesale electricity to over 1.7 million people and when this latest wind farm begins operating it will have 300MW of wind capacity under contract.

Press release