UK - Nordex scores again in the United Kingdom

Nordex AG has since received the fifth new contract for this year from the United Kingdom. The Company will now be supplying wind turbines with an output of some 70 megawatts with a total value of around EUR 70 million to this country. The latest project concerns extensions to the “Crystal Rig” wind farm with the addition of five N80/2500 KW turbines in a contract worth EUR 10 million.

In 2003, Nordex had constructed 20 N80 turbines close to the small Scottish town of Dunbar. With an installed capacity of 50 megawatts, “Crystal Rig” is one of the largest wind farms in operation in the United Kingdom. “In my view, the fact that Fred Olsen Renewables has opted for Nordex again testifies to the confidence which it has in our technol-ogy,” says Carsten Pedersen, COO Sales and Marketing at Nordex AG.

And the wind farm developer is in good company. This year alone, two other Nordex customers – including UK utility Npower – have opted for this turbine. Generally speaking, what was decisive was the robust de-sign of the turbine, which is certified for strong-wind sites. In the past few months, Nordex has received orders for 22 of its N80 turbines from the United Kingdom to join the 30 units already in operation there.

Including the projects under construction, Nordex UK has to date in-stalled roughly 200 megawatts worth around EUR 160 million. The Company is also providing maintenance services for most of these tur-bines. Explains Pedersen: “Our customers often attach key importance to OEM service, which is why we want to further extend our service in the UK. In fact, we are currently holding negotiations with a number of customers on new projects.”

The United Kingdom is one of Nordex’s most important markets on ac-count of the strong projected growth. Experts assume that new installa-tion of the industry will expand in 2006 by around 40% to some 600 megawatts. Contrary to original assumptions, demand is focusing on on-shore turbines.