Finnish domestic manufacturer sells seven units at home

Finnish wind turbine supplier WinWind has won two contracts from PCO Innopower to expand two of its existing projects in north-west Finland. Under the first contract, five 3 MW turbines will join a single WinWind 3 MW unit installed in 2005 at Ajos, in the port area of Kemi. Innopower, prompted by a decision by Finland's industry ministry to allocate a state capital subsidy of EUR 9.6 million to the venture, acquired a controlling interest in the Ajos project from its development partner, Hamina Energi, in July. The coastal project will start generating electricity early in 2008, says WinWind's Veli-Matti Jääskeläinen. Plans are for it to be extended to 33 MW by end 2010. Under the second agreement, two of WinWind's 3 MW machines will be added to a site at Riutunkari in Oulunsalo, bringing the facility's installed capacity to 10.5 MW. Commercial operation of the new turbines is expected in the fourth quarter of 2007.