Once complete, the Rampion offshore wind project is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by up to 600,000 tons a year.

Utility company E.ON announced plans to install the first turbine foundation for the Rampion offshore wind project in the UK.

The 40o-MW project is located in the English Channel and being built by E.ON, the UK Green Investment Bank, and Canadian energy company Enbridge.

The project remains on schedule, despite adverse weather conditions that already disrupted enabling works to prepare the seabed for the 116 turbines.

E.ON
www.eon.com

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Diamond WTG will provide several performance upgrades to the 1-MW wind turbines at Texas’ Brazos Wind Farm.

Diamond WTG Engineering & Services, a group company of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Brazos Wind Ventures, inked a long-term service agreement for the 16-MW Brazos Wind Project located near Fluvanna, Texas. The Brazos Wind Project is jointly owned by Shell Wind Energy and Mitsui & Co. (collectively “Brazos”).

The eight-year agreement underscores the confidence in Diamond’s ability to perform as a top-tier Independent Service Provider (ISP). Diamond has quickly emerged as an ISP leader in the market and, as part of the Mitsubishi family, it brings to customers a unique combination of industry experience, engineering, research and development, proven project management, and execution capabilities.

Brazos has also tapped Diamond to implement several performance and reliability upgrades to the 1-MW (MWT-1000A) wind turbines at the Brazos Wind Project to help optimize production and extend the life of the asset. These upgrades will enhance reliability, increase production, lower the Total Cost of Energy, reduce maintenance costs, and contribute to the overall project profitability.

These upgrades will include the following:

• Upgraded governing oil system with an enhanced design;
• Upgraded Multipurpose Remote Controller (version 3); and
• Implementation of an Automatic Greasing System for main bearings.

“We are delighted to have been selected by the Brazos Wind Project owners as their ‘go to’ ISP to ensure this energy complex operates at maximum efficiency by leveraging state-of-the-art technology with the highest maintenance standards,” stated Harm Toren, President and CEO of Diamond. “This agreement also underscores the Brazos owners’ confidence in Diamond as it now brings to three, the number of wind farms Diamond will manage on their behalf.”

Toren added: “During the first quarter of 2016, we expect to continue to expand our portfolio of ISP customers as we demonstrate a multidisciplinary approach to addressing the needs of owners that have invested in our nation’s renewable energy future.”

Diamond WTG Engineering & Services, Inc.  
www.diamondwtg.com

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The Amazon Wind Farm is now fully operational. The facility will sell 100% of the electricity produced to Amazon Web Services (AWS), which will supply the electricity to the electric grids that service its data centers.

Growing its operational capacity, Pattern Energy Group announced that construction has completed for the 150-MW Amazon Wind Farm Fowler Ridge in Benton County, Indiana and the wind farm is now fully operational. The facility will sell 100% of the electricity produced to Amazon Web Services (AWS), which will supply the electricity to the electric grids that service its data centers.

“It’s a privilege to team with AWS on the Amazon Wind Farm Fowler Ridge, demonstrating the strong and growing appetite for wind power from the country’s leading corporations,” said Mike Garland, President and CEO of Pattern Energy. “This facility was completed on schedule and we are beginning 2016 with all 16 of our wind power facilities fully operational. Since our IPO we have grown the portfolio by 119%, underscoring the value of our strategic relationship with Pattern Development and our ability to execute attractive third-party acquisitions.”

He added: “Our strong platform of fully-contracted power facilities, combined with our identified ROFO acquisitions pipeline totaling 1,270 MW, puts Pattern Energy in an excellent position to continue growing its fleet and quarterly dividend.”

Jerry Hunter, VP of Infrastructure at AWS also commented. “AWS has a long-term commitment to achieve 100% renewable energy usage for our global infrastructure footprint, and we continue to make progress towards this goal,” he said. “We’re very excited to announce with Pattern Energy that the Amazon Wind Farm Fowler Ridge is now live and producing electricity, bringing a new source of clean energy to the grids that power our data centers.”

The Amazon Wind Farm Fowler Ridge consists of 65 Siemens 2.3-MW wind turbines with ‘Made in America’ components. The turbine blades, nacelles, towers, and transformers were manufactured in the United States. The 150-MW facility will create enough clean energy to power 46,000 homes each year, according to average annual residential energy use data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

“Siemens is proud that workers at our factories in the Midwest produced the turbines for the Amazon Wind Farm Fowler Ridge, which continues an exciting trend of technology companies and major corporations turning to wind power for their energy needs. As wind becomes an increasingly important part of our nation’s energy mix, we are pleased to partner once again with Pattern Energy to deliver sustainable and affordable wind energy,” said Jacob Andersen, CEO Onshore Americas, Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division.

An average of 175 workers were on site during construction, which was managed by Mortenson Construction, with up to 300 workers on site during peak construction activity. There are ten full-time permanent workers to operate and maintain the facility. The Amazon Wind Farm Fowler Ridge is expected to add an estimated $45 million over 25 years to the regional economy through property taxes, landowner royalties, and support for local causes.

Pattern Energy has an owned interest of 116 MW and institutional tax equity investors have acquired the balance. The facility is financed with all equity rather than project debt.

Pattern Energy acquired the Amazon Wind Farm Fowler Ridge from Pattern Energy Group LP (Pattern Development) in April 2015. Pattern Energy has rights of first offer to Pattern Development’s entire project development pipeline, which totals more than 5,900 MW.

Pattern Energy Group
www.patternenergy.com

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