OSLO: Norwegian state-owned renewables producer Statkraft and Danish turbine maker Vestas announced on Tuesday that they will collaborate on Europe’s largest onshore wind power plant.
Statkraft, TrønderEnergi and Nordic Wind Power will invest 11 billion Norwegian kroner ($1.3 billion, €1.6 billion) in six wind farms that are expected to produce 1,000 megawatts by 2020.
The wind farms will be built on the Fosen peninsula, Snillfjord and the island of Hitra and, coastal areas near Trondheim with some of the best conditions for wind power production in all of Europe.
“This is an important day for Statkraft and Norway. Together with our partners, we have invested in the largest project in renewable energy that Norway has seen in many years. With this project, Statkraft will become one of the leading players within onshore wind power,” company CEO Christian Rynning-Tønnesen said.
Wind turbines for the massive project will be provided by Vestas, the Danish firm said on Tuesday. “Vestas can confirm that Fosen Vind DA has chosen Vestas to deliver wind turbines to six wind power plants with a combined capacity of 1,000 MW in Norway,” a stock exchange announcement read.
According to Jyllands-Posten, Vestas will deliver 278 3.6 MW turbines to the project, representing the largest order the company has ever received.
Norwegian PM Erna Solberg said she was “pleased” with the scope of the new wind power project.
“This is one of the largest industrial projects in mainland Norway and it will provide jobs. It will also provide a boost for investments in renewable energy in Norway,” she said.
The 1,000 MW to be produced by the new onshore wind farms will exceed Norway’s current total wind power capacity. When the wind farms are complete in 2020, they will produce 3.4 terawatt hours of renewable energy per year, enough to provide heat and light to 170,000 households.
Construction will start in the second quarter of this year and the first windmills from Vestas will be delivered and installed in 2018.
