Vestas to supply 356MW turbines for MidAmerican Energy 2GW Wind XI project

Wind industry news : Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has bagged an order to supply 356MW turbines for the 2,000MW Wind XI project in Iowa from MidAmerican Energy, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway Energy.

Under the order, Vestas will deliver and commission its V110-2.0 MW turbines for the Wind XI project. The Danish wind turbine manufacturer will also be responsible for a full scope service package designed to maximize the wind farm’s uptime and energy production for a period of five years under an Active Output Management 5000 (AOM 5000) service agreement.

The wind turbines for the Wind XI project will be manufactured at Vestas’ Colorado factories with their delivery slated to commence in the second quarter of 2019. The Danish wind turbine manufacturer said that the majority of the wind turbine components will be purchased domestically, as part of its contribution to the growth of American manufacturing.

Vestas to supply 356MW turbines for MidAmerican Energy 2GW Wind XI project in Iowa. Photo courtesy of Vestas

Chris Brown – President of Vestas sales and service division in the US and Canada, commenting on the Wind XI project contract, said: “This project will harness low-cost wind energy for MidAmerican Energy’s customers, all while enhancing the reliability and resiliency of the grid.

“Vestas is proud to deliver its industry-leading technology to this project that will generate hundreds of millions of dollars in economic benefits, including landowner lease payments, tax payments, and long-term secure jobs.”

The Wind XI project will ensure that MidAmerican Energy generates approximately 90% of its retail energy load from wind upon entering full operations.

Currently being built across multiple sites in Iowa, the wind XI project will be brought into operations between 2017 and 2019.

The Wind XI project represents an investment of $3.6 billion from MidAmerican Energy. Under the project, the 170MW Beaver Creek wind project in Boone and Greene counties and the 168MW Prairie wind project in Mahaska County commenced operations in April and May 2017, respectively.

Another wind farm under the Wind XI project Construction activity – the 340MW North English wind farm, which broke ground in October 2017, is scheduled to be ready in December 2018. The $500 million North English wind farm will be equipped with up to 170 Vestas 2.0MW wind turbines.