Petra Solar and Enviromena Power Systems have entered into a partnership to pursue solar energy and smart grid development in the Middle East and North Africa region. This partnership will draw its strength from Petra Solar's Smart Solar technology and Enviromena's renewable energy development expertise.
German private investment funds, Terra Nex and Middle East Best Select (MEBS) are planning to invest USD 2 billion in Oman for the development of 400 MW of solar power capacity. Additionally, this investment will also cover manufacturing facilities for solar panels, which will produce solar panels for both domestic needs and for exporting to other markets.
Vestas has confirmed the company has signed a conditional contract with Northwind NV for 216 MW of offshore wind turbines, to be installed at an offshore wind farm being developed off the coast of Belgium.
Gamesa has signed an agreement with Longyuan for another 50 MW of wind turbines for a project in Ningxia. The newly ordered 50 MW are to be delivered and installed in June 2012. Previously, Longyuan ordered 50 MW of the same units, the G97-2.0 MW.
DONG Energy announced in the summer of 2010 the company is going to build the Anholt offshore wind farm off the coast of Denmark. Siemens was chosen as the supplier of the wind turbines for the project, and will deliver 111 of its 3.6 MW offshore units. The project has now officially entered construction, on January 13.
As reported by Xinhua, the Chinese news agency, China is planning to build a 300 MW offshore wind farm in near the norther coast of its Hebei province. This will be the largest offshore wind project to be built in China so far, with a total investment of about USD 913 million.
REpower has concluded a contract for the supply of a total of 73 wind turbines, MM92 units. The combined capacity of all the units is 150 MW, to be installed at a project in Oklahoma. The company was assisted by Suzlon Wind Energy as a sales agent.
Acciona has entered into a supply contract with NaturEner for the supply of 126 AW77-1500 wind turbines, totalling in 189 MW of capacity. The ordered turbines will be installed at the Rim Rock wind farm in Montana, USA. Apart from the delivery and installation of the turbines, Acciona will also commission the units, and provide service and maintenance for seven years.
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.
