Gamesa secures 150MW wind turbine contract for wind farms in Brazil

Spain-based Gamesa has secured a contract from Consórcio Morrinhos to supply 150MW of wind turbine capacity to five wind farms that will be built in Brazil.

Under the contract, Gamesa will install and commission 75 of its G97 2.0MW wind turbines in five 30MW wind farms, to be built in the town of Campo Formoso in Bahia state.

Installation of the wind turbines is expected to commence in the second half of 2014 and be completed by the first half of 2015.

The contract also requires Gamesa to handle operations and maintenance at all five wind farms for a period of 15 years.

Once operational, all the five wind farms are expected to produce about 727,000MWh of electricity a year, equal to the annual power requirement of 297,000 Brazilian households.

The wind farms will also prevent the emission of more than 215,000 tonnes of carbon per year.

Gamesa regional director for the Southern Cone region Edgard Corrochano said Brazil is one of the company's priority growth markets for the near and medium term.

"Gamesa's consolidation as one of the leading turbine makers in Brazil is underpinned by a solid business strategy that combines our global technological prowess with local know-how and our commitment to community development by creating jobs and generating wealth by purchasing and allying with local suppliers," Corrochano added.

Gamesa said it started manufacturing operations in Brazil less than two years ago and secured contracts covering a capacity of about 1,000MW.

In addition to Brazil, Gamesa is present in other Latin American nations, which include Mexico, Honduras, Argentine and Costa Rica, where it has installed almost 1,000MW of turbines.