Vestas announced a reorganization of the company's activities in order to reduce fixed costs by more than EUR 150 million, which is to reach full effect near the end of 2012. Most of the cost cutting measures include streamlining of support functions in the company, but also through closing of factories in accordance with the state of demand in the wind energy market in the coming months.
The bidding process for offshore wind development concessions in France has started as all the major consortiums announced the submission of their bids. A total of 3000 MW of development concession are to be awarded in this round. Several major offshore wind and energy companies have formed consortiums for this purpose, including companies such as GDF Suez, EDF Energies Nouvelles, Alstom, Areva, Iberdrola Renovables and DONG Energy.
MPX (Brazil) and E.ON have entered into an agreement to form an equally owned joint venture for energy development and supply and trade activities in Brazil and Chile. The new partnership will aim to develop 20 GW of new power generating capacity in the two South American countries. This figure represents about 20% of the total current capacity in Brazil. The new JV will be responsible for developing both thermal energy and renewable energy sources.
AWS Truepower has been chosen as one of the partners to be involved in the Carolinas Offshore Wind Integration Case Study (COWICS), funded by the US Department of Interior. The company's partners on this project are Duke Energy, ABB and the
National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), as well as the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill (UNC). The purpose of
the study is to assess the benefits and challenges associated with the development of offshore wind capacity near the coasts of North and South Carolina. The US DoI will regard the results of this study as critical for making policy and commercial descisions having to do with offshore wind development.
OCI Solar Power (based in South Korea) and CPS Energy have partnered for a possible 400 MW of solar power capacity in Texas. The future project could become one of the largest solar projects in the US. The project will be comprised of several solar power plants, which combined will be able to produce enough electrical energy annually to supply some 90,000 average homes.
Gamesa is pursuing its growth strategy further with the establishment of a new blade manufacturing operation in India, the
company's first in this Asian wind energy market. The new blade factory represents an investment of EUR 60 million, and is a direct consequence of the growing wind energy market in India.
REpower has acquired the remaining 49% stake in PowerBlades, putting the German offshore wind turbine blade manufacturer completely under its control. PowerBlades was started in 2007 as a joint venture between REpower (51%) and SGL Rotec (49%).
Sempra US Gas & Power and BP Wind Energy are expanding their strategic partnership in wind energy by agreeing to jointly develop the Mehoopany wind farm in Pennsylvania and the Flat Ridge 2 wind farm in Kansas. Both projects represent a combined investment of about USD 1 billion, with a total of 560 MW of installed capacity.
The Supreme Council of Energy for Dubai has launched the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, the first utility scale solar project of its kind in UAE, and the region. The project is to be operated and managed by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), and is to eventually reach 1000 MW of installed capacity.
ABB has received an order for USD 50 million worth of electrical equipment and services for the improvement of reliability and strength of the existing power transmission grid in Texas. The improvements will allow greater integration of wind capacity into the state's power grid.
