Vestas signed a 32-megawatt (MW) contract for the extension of the Ulassai Wind Park in Italy taking its global order intake in 2018 to 12,014 MW, the Danish wind giant announced Friday.
This supersedes the previous year's record order intake of 11,176 MW, according to Vestas' statement, which said the 2018 order intake was based on announced orders in all four quarters of the year as well as unannounced orders in the first three quarters.
Unannounced order volumes received in the fourth quarter of 2018 will be disclosed in the annual report in February 2019, it added.
According to the statement, the latest order, which pushed the company's order intake over the 12 GW mark, was placed by Sardeolica S.r.L. and includes the supply and installation of nine V117-3.45 MW turbines delivered in 3.6 MW Power Optimized Mode, adding to the 48 V80-2.0 MW turbines already installed on the site.
To accommodate the site's specific wind conditions and maximize energy production, six of the new turbines will have a hub height of 91.5 meters while the other three will be 116.5 meters, it said.
With this new contract, the long-term partnership between Vestas and Sardeolica now totals 128 MW of wind projects in Italy, it added.
Commenting on the order, Rainer Karan, general manager of Vestas Mediterranean Eastern Cluster, said this was Vestas’ first contract outside the auctions systems in Italy, showcasing once again the competitiveness and efficiency of wind energy.
'Since 2012, when the country held its first auction, Vestas has achieved more than 1 GW in order intake derived from auction-wins in Italy. In this regard, this new contract represents a great step on the country's transition towards renewable energy and we are so proud to be part of this milestone,' he added.
Turbine delivery is planned for the second quarter of 2019 while commissioning is expected by the third quarter.
According to the press release, since installing its first turbine in Italy in 1991, Vestas has led the country's wind industry with more than 4 GW of installed capacity while contributing to the expansion of the country's wind energy sector with a 40 percent market share.
By Hale Turkes
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr