Big project and new offshoot

Enron Wind of California is positioning itself for growth on the European market. In Spain it has already secured a firm foothold and is to supply 100 Tacke TZ-750 turbines via its Spanish manufacturer, Tacke Energ’a Eolica (TEE). In Denmark it is preparing to respond to the coming tenders for 750 MW of wind power capacity for five offshore wind farms. Last month it poached the boss of one of Denmark's wind turbine manufacturers, Jørn Kristensen, now ex-managing director of Wincon.

Enercon's Spanish customer for the Tacke turbines is Energ’as Eolicas Europeas (EEE). It will install the turbines in two new developments in Albacete, in the region of Castilla la Mancha (New Castille). EEE is owned equally by renewables giant Energ’a Hidraulica de Navarra (EHN) -- which is responsible for 30% of the country's wind power production -- and Spain's second largest utility, Iberdrola.

With 112 MW already under its belt in Albacete -- using Gamesa 660 kW Vestas turbines -- EEE is one of Spain's biggest single developers and, so far, the only one with wind plant up and running in Castilla la Mancha. The Tacke turbines will add 75 MW to its developments in Albacete, namely in the localities of Sierra Quemada and Navejuelos.

TEE's Sergio Castedo, who is overseeing construction of the company's manufacturing plant on the outskirts of Madrid, says it should be up and running by May. He expects delivery of the first turbines to begin in June 2000 and that scheduled ramp-up should bring completion of the order by the end of the year.

TEE will equip the TZ-750 kW turbines with Enron's patented FlexiPower system enabling dynamic reactive power (VAR) and grid feed voltage control. This technology was first manufactured by Zond Energy Systems, the US turbine manufacturing arm of Enron.