Acciona Energía to replace 90 older wind power systems with 12 new wind turbines

The Nordex Group has won a 30-MW order to renovate one of Acciona Energía’s oldest wind farm in Spain. In the second half of 2018, it will upgrade the 30-MW wind farm “El Cabrito” with twelve multi-megawatt turbines. In this connection, Acciona Energia has opted for eight N100/3000 turbines and four AW70/1500 turbines that fit optimally in the existing wind farm layout. The contract provides for the delivery of the turbines as well as a guarantee for an initial period of two years.

The wind farm was originally constructed around 25 years ago and was one of the first projects of its kind at that time. Accordingly, the 90 turbines, each of which have a nominal capacity of around 330 KW, are now showing their age. With a capacity that is up to ten times greater, the twelve new turbines will produce an increased energy yield despite having the same nominal capacity, whilst simultaneously lowering the operating costs. At the same time, the landscape will also be improved aesthetically thanks to the substantially lower number of turbines.

“El Cabrito” is situated on a mountain range near Tarifa in southern Spain where high wind speeds prevail. Acciona Energía will handle the dismantling of the older wind systems.

“This project is something of an ideal constellation for us, as with it, we can demonstrate that wind power has gained substantially in efficiency and show that this kind of projects makes good ecological and economic sense,” says Patxi Landa, Chief Sales Officer of Nordex SE.

 

The Group has installed wind power capacity of more than 21 GW in over 25 markets, generating sales of EUR 3.4 billion in 2016. It currently has roughly 5,000 employees. The production network comprises plants in Germany, Spain, Brazil, the United States and India. The product range primarily concentrates on onshore turbines in the 1.5 – 4.5 MW class addressing the requirements of land constrained as well as grid constrained markets.