Turkish firm orders 20 wind turbines
Vestas Italia has received an order for 20 V90-3.0 MW wind turbines for a project in the Catalca region near Istanbul. The order comprises supply, installation and commissioning of the wind turbines, including a service contract for two years. Delivery is scheduled to begin during the summer of 2007, and the project will be completed during the first half of 2008. The order has been placed by Ertürk Elektrik Üretim Ltd. Sti., a Turkish company owned by the Sanko Group, which is one of the most important industrial players in Turkey. Last year, Sanko Group started to invest in the wind energy sector and Vestas was chosen as the preferred supplier of wind turbines.
Vestas Italia general manager Rainer Karan, said: “This is the second contract that we have received from Sanko. … We look forward to working together with the Sanko Group in developing the wind energy sector in Turkey.
Due to the fast economic growth that has characterized Turkey in recent years, energy consumption has risen at an annual rate of 7-8 percent, according to Eurostat 2005 statistics. At present, thermal power plants mostly generate power production in Turkey and the country is strongly dependent on gas imports.
In order to face this growing demand for energy, there is a need to rearrange the energy mix and to include new energy sources, such as wind. Many Turkish companies, like Sanko are focusing more on the wind energy sector.
Turkey has Europe's second largest wind potential and may develop this into a very significant market. The wind power plant has an estimated annual production of 211,000 MWh, which corresponds to an annual emission saving of more than 115,200 tons of CO2 compared with average EU electricity, according to Vestas officials.