Vestas secures ten year service deal in Italy

The service contract extensions include a 10-year service agreement with Vestas’ Active Output Management (AOM) 5000 service scope, a complete service package to ensure minimised lost production, including everything necessary to maximise output but with further aligned incentives. AOM 5000 offers an energy based availability guarantee that aligns service and maintenance execution with low wind periods.

Under the agreement, GDF SUEZ Energia Italia will also benefit, for the entire fleet, from the Vestas Weather & Power Forecast – a high-quality, site specific, continuous weather and production forecasting system. It enables the optimisation of maintenance schedules by identifying low wind periods during which service is to be performed. It also improves customers’ business by delivering precise power forecasting, and it fulfils the grid requirements established.

“We decided to renew our 111 Vestas wind turbines’ service and maintenance agreement for another ten years on the basis of our long-lasting business relationship with Vestas and its ability to meet a number of specific requests – not least, maximising our wind power plants’ value by increasing the turbines’ reliability and availability, reducing down time and improving lifetime performance of our wind turbines in the country,”  declares Pascal Renaud, Generation Director for GDF SUEZ Energia Italia.

“We are very proud that GDF SUEZ Energia Italia has chosen to sign 10-year advanced service renewal contracts for their entire Vestas installed fleet in Italy. The GDF SUEZ Group is one of the largest and most experienced utilities in the world that demands excellence within its organisation and from Vestas. Vestas is therefore very pleased to have been chosen by the customer on the basis of the confidence built over years and our ability to listen and act on their requests,” comments Nicolas Wolff, General Manager Vestas France and GDF SUEZ Strategic Account Vice President who continues, “we are pleased with the trust GDF SUEZ shows in our organisation as this is a huge recognition of our service performances.”

“With the signature of this agreement, during 2013, Vestas in Italy has secured long-term service contracts for around 500 MW – of which more than 70 per cent is for already operating wind power plants in the country,” declares Rainer Karan, Vestas Italia General Manager, who concludes, “our products, our service organisation and the strong partnerships with our customers in the country, have led us to become market leader in Italy with approximately 40 per cent of cumulative market share.”

The six wind power plants produce approximately 250,000 MWh per year, which is enough to meet the residential electricity consumption of about 220,000 people in Italy and save the environment from almost 100,000 tons of CO2 emissions on an annual basis. Installed between 2006 and 2010, the power plants are located in the regions of Campania, Molise and Sicily.

The Group is the third largest gas operator serving more than 1.3 million customers and the fourth largest producer of electricity. SUEZ ENVIRONNEMENT also has a strong position with over 2.4 million users of its environmental services. Italy is a key market where GDF SUEZ enjoys prominent positions. GDF SUEZ is the leader in energy services in Italy through its subsidiary Cofely.

GDF SUEZ develops its businesses around a model based on responsible growth to take up today’s major energy and environmental challenges: meeting energy needs, ensuring the security of supply, combating climate change and optimising the use of resources. The Group provides highly efficient and innovative solutions to individuals, cities and businesses by relying on diversified gas-supply sources, flexible and low-emission power generation as well as unique expertise in four key sectors: liquefied natural gas, energy efficiency services, independent power production and environmental services.

GDF SUEZ employs 218,900 people worldwide and achieved revenues of EUR 97bn in 2012. The Group is listed on the Brussels, Luxembourg and Paris stock exchanges and is represented in the main international indices: CAC 40, BEL 20, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe, ASPI Eurozone, Vigeo World 120, Vigeo Europe 120 and Vigeo France 20.

Every single day, Vestas wind turbines deliver clean energy that supports the global fight against climate change. Wind power from Vestas’ around 49,000 wind turbines currently reduces carbon emissions by over 60 million tons of CO2 every year, while at the same time building energy security and independence.

Today, Vestas has delivered wind energy in 73 countries, providing jobs for around 17,000 passionate people at our service and project sites, research facilities, factories and offices all over the world. With about 62 per cent more megawatts installed than our closest competitor and more than 56 GW of cumulative installed capacity worldwide, Vestas is the world leader in wind energy.