Deal clinched for Andalucia's first inland wind plant

Gamesa Eólica has clinched its third turbine supply deal for Andalucia. The 15 MW turnkey contract, signed with developer Sistemas Energéticos Sierra SAU del Trigo, is for the supply and installation of 23 Gamesa 660 kW turbines in the districts of Nogalejo, Campillo de Arenas and Valdepeñas in the inland Jaén province. This will be Andalucia's first inland wind plant. So far all the region's 146 MW installed wind capacity comes from coastal stations -- with 113 MW in Tarifa. More wind projects for Jaén are reportedly now entering an advanced stage of processing, even though the province is considered a difficult terrain by the regional energy agency Sociedad para el Desarrollo Energético de Andalucía. Gamesa's first contract in Andalucia was to supply 30, 660 kW turbines to the 19.8 MW Casares plant in Malaga province, which came on-line last year. In April 2001, the company announced its second deal, this time to supply 50, 2 MW machines to new Wind Ibérica developments in Tarifa.