Nordex Earns Order for Eight 20-MW Wind Turbines

Dec. 18, 2009
Wisconsin project represents trend to larger, high-efficiency/high-yield turbines.

Nordex USA Inc. has won a contract from Emerging Energies of Wisconsin to build eight N100 wind turbines for installation at the Shirley Wind Farm project in Glenmore, WI, near Green Bay. The 20-megawatt farm is forecast to produce almost 64 million kW/h/year of electricity — which Nordex notes would be sufficient “to power about 8,000 homes and displace an estimated 55,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions.”

The order also includes maintenance and technical operation under a 10-year service contract.

The Shirley Wind Farm is majority-owned by The CH Energy Group, and it carries a 20-year power-purchase agreement contract with Wisconsin Public Service Corp.

For the domestic market this project represents a trend toward larger turbines with higher efficiencies and yields, according to Nordex. While the average rating for wind turbines installed domestically in 2008 was 1.67 MW, each unit installed in this project will have a 2.5-MW rating.

Nordex built the world’s first 2.5-MW turbine in 2000 and has over 1,000 installed worldwide.

"The project debuts some of the most advanced turbines in the U.S.," stated Nordex USA president and CEO Ralf Sigrist. "It's been a pleasure partnering with Emerging Energies to provide the best technology for the site, designed to make the absolute most of Glenmore's wind resources."

The turbines for the Shirley Wind Farm will be delivered and installed in the third quarter of 2010, and the project is slated for completion in the fourth quarter.

The N100 turbine is Nordex’s latest 2.5-MW turbine design. Each unit will be 492 ft tall, with a hub height and rotor diameter of 100 meters, and a rotor sweep of 7,823 square meters. The design will allow an increase in power yield by up to 20% at average wind speeds of around 7.5 m/sec, compared to the previous Nordex 2.5-MW model, the N90.

A manufacturing plant is under construction in Jonesboro, Ark., and production of N90/N100 turbines for the U.S. market will begin in September 2010.

The N100 is designed to withstand low to moderate wind speeds, and according to Nordex it would be well suited for various U.S. wind farm projects. For the Wisconsin installation, Nordex will supply eight “cold climate” N100s, which will be modified to function at temperatures as low as -20 degrees F.

"We looked very carefully at the N80/N90/N100 Nordex turbines and were convinced by their great track record, along with the quality and experience Nordex brings to the market," explained Emerging Energies’ Bill Rakocy. "We selected the N100s because they accomplish two critical project goals -- maximizing available land and wind resources by using the largest, tallest turbines available. We're excited to introduce them in the U.S. and in Wisconsin."