Senvion concludes 56 megawatt Antilope wind power project in France

Senvion will equip the Champ de la Grand-Mère, Terres Noires and Croix Noire 1 and 2 wind farms with a total of 24 wind turbines from its 2 and 3 megawatt portfolio that will produce enough electricity to power more than 18,600 households in France.

The Champ de la Grand-Mère wind farm will feature six MM92 machines with a total rated output of 12.3 MW. Installation will begin by the end of this year and commissioning is planned for March 2017. The Terres Noires wind farm will feature six 3.2M114 turbines with a total rated output of 19.2 MW. Installation is scheduled for May 2017 and commissioning is scheduled for Q3 2017.

In May this year, Senvion concluded contracts with Eurowatt for the Croix Noire wind farms 1 and 2. Croix Noire 1 will feature six MM92 turbines and the Croix Noire 2 wind farm will consist of one MM82 and five MM92 machines resulting in a total rated output of 24.6 MW. Installation is due to start at both wind farms by the end of this year with commissioning taking place in Q1 2017.

The four wind farms have been agreed on a turnkey basis with Senvion responsible for the foundations, civil works and electrical works which began simultaneously at the three wind farms Champ de la Grand-Mère and the Croix Noire 1 and 2 projects last June. Senvion will also provide full maintenance services to all four wind farms for 15 years and an additional Senvion service centre was opened at Frévent earlier this month.

Olivier Perot, Managing Director of Senvion Europe South West, says: "We thank our client Eurowatt for their renewed trust after the installation of 20 Senvion turbines in 2014. The Antilope full turnkey contracts demonstrate Senvion's capability to deliver end-to-end wind energy solutions. These wind farms will lead to the creation of local and highly-skilled jobs through the opening of the Frévent Senvion service center, the fourth in the Les Hauts de France region."

Dominique Darne, CEO of Eurowatt Group, says: "These four contracts signed with Senvion are proof of our confidence in the Senvion technology and their team. We are thankful to Senvion for their support during the last four months to secure financing in a complex environment due to the French support mechanism being under pressure. Eurowatt is also pleased to have secured the opening of a service centre close to its operational and future wind farms, supporting performance and creating jobs locally."

Last month, Senvion announced the company had reached over 2,000 megawatts installed capacity in France. Senvion was established in France in 2002 and has over 1,000 turbines in operation, from the former MD series to the current MM and 3.XM series.