Södra builds wind turbines of Enercon at Mönsterås Mill (Sweden)

“This is the first wind power project that Södra is implementing. Naturally, Mönsterås municipality is also involved in the wind farm project. During the licence process, a wind energy project like this always has to follow set rules and is a balancing act between concern for local interests and industrial value creation,” said Gustav Tibblin, president of Södra Vind.

Preparations have been underway since autumn 2009 with startup of the six new wind turbines scheduled for November 2010.

“ENERCON has shown they want to be a long-term strategic partner to Södra and they share our emphasis on continuous productivity improvement and environmental friendliness. They deliver robust, proven and effective wind power technical solutions at the best total cost,” said Beatrice Kämpe-Nikolausson, Södra’s director of procurement.

“With this contract, ENERCON and Södra take a joint step forward in the expansion of Swedish wind power, and we are looking forward to a continuing close relationship,” commented Claes Jeppsson, sales manager for Sweden for ENERCON GmbH.

In addition to the delivery of six wind turbines to Södra Cell Mönsterås, Södra and ENERCON have contracted an option on a further 50 wind turbines.

The project at Mönsterås mill is the first stage of a major wind farm investment around the mill in conjunction with Norwegian energy company Statkraft. Licence approval has been granted to construct a further four wind turbines in Åserum, just north of the mill. Preliminary planning is fully underway.

The third stage of the wind power development is planned in a bow-shaped area running from Torp north of Mönsterås towards Kråkerum to the east.

The total scope of this wind power investment is sufficient to supply the entire municipality with locally produced, renewable household electricity.

Södra is a Swedish group with broad forestry operations and is a leading producer of pulp, wood products and bioenergy. The company, which is owned by 51,000 forest owners in southern Sweden, has 4,000 employees and sales of SEK 17 billion.

Enercon is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of wind turbines, with operations in some 30 countries and more than 15,000 wind turbines installed, of which approximately 400 are in Sweden. The company, which is owned by Aloys Wobben, has 10,000 employees and sales of SEK 30 billion.

www.sodra.com

www.enercon.de