THE FRIDAY NOTE: Vestas, Siemens install 11 GW wind in 2014 and more top news picks

Vestas remained the top wind turbine installer in 2014 and was followed by Siemens, which this week announced a new 7-MW wind turbine model and 700 MW of offshore wind deals. Chicago’s NGPI unveiled a 200-MW solar project in Sierra Leone and we saw increased project activity in South Africa.

According to GlobalData, Denmark’s Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS) has installed just over 6 GW of turbines last year, remaining the global leader. Siemens (ETR:SIE) ranked second with nearly 5 GW and was followed by Goldwind, GE and Enercon.

India’s Suzlon Energy Ltd (BOM:532667) dropped to the tenth spot in 2014 with installations of less than 1.9 GW.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/vestas-keeps-crown-with-6-gw-of-wind-turbine-installations-in-2014-467314

SIEMENS PRESENTS 7-MW TURBINE, WINS 700 MW OF ORDERS

At the EWEA Offshore 2015 event in Copenhagen on Wednesday, Siemens unveiled a new 7-MW offshore wind turbine model, which is set to enter series production by 2017. It says the machine will produce nearly 10% more power than its predecessor, the SWT-6.0-154 turbine.

On the very next day, Danish utility Dong Energy A/S said it has picked the 7-MW turbine for the second 330-MW phase of the Walney Extension project in UK waters. Meanwhile, Siemens’ 6-MW turbines will most likely power the 400-MW Veja Mate wind project in the German North Sea, as announced in the middle of the week.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/siemens-7-mw-offshore-turbine-to-enter-mass-production-in-2017-467599

at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/dong-wants-siemens-7-mw-offshore-turbine-for-330-mw-uk-park-467720

and at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/siemens-to-equip-400-mw-veja-mate-offshore-wind-farm-467682

WPD, HOFOR TO JOINTLY BID IN DENMARK’S 350-MW NEAR-SHORE WIND TENDER

Remaining on the offshore wind wave, we continue with the news that German wind power group Wpd AG and Danish utility Hofor have agreed to make a joint bid in Denmark’s planned tender for up to 350 MW of near-shore wind power capacity. The move would be part of a newly-signed offshore wind cooperation agreement between the two companies that was announced on Wednesday.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/wpd-hofor-to-jointly-bid-in-denmark-s-350-mw-near-shore-wind-tender-467499

GAMESA, AREVA FINALISE OFFSHORE WIND JV

The last news from the sector for this week’s Friday Note, but definitely not the least, is that France’s Areva (EPA:AREVA) and Spain’s Gamesa (MCE:GAM) have closed the transaction for the formation of Adwen, a 50/50 offshore wind joint venture with a 2.8-GW project pipeline. With headquarters in Zamudio, Spain, the new company will be designing, manufacturing, installing, commissioning and servicing offshore wind turbines.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/gamesa-areva-finalise-offshore-wind-jv-467198

NGPI, NATIONS SOLAR TO BUILD 200 MW OF PV PLANTS IN SIERRA LEONE

On the solar energy front, Chicago-based power producer New Generation Power International (NGPI) said last Friday it has teamed up with Nations Solar to install 200 MW of solar power capacity in Sierra Leone. They expect to start construction on a 20-MW plant this year and install the other 180 MW over the next two years. The companies are also partnering on hydropower projects in the west African country.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/ngpi-nations-solar-to-build-200-mw-of-pv-plants-in-sierra-leone-466953

HOT MARKET OF THE WEEK: SOUTH AFRICA

Well, it was not too hot, but the start of construction of nearly 500 MW of renewable power capacity is worth mentioning.

Italian renewable energy firm Enel Green Power SpA (BIT:EGPW) said Tuesday it has started construction of 231 MW of South African photovoltaic (PV) projects. Two of the parks will be built by Italian firm TerniEnergia SpA (BIT:TER) under an engineering, procurement and construction services (EPC) contract won in July 2014.

Meanwhile, Chinese power producer China Longyuan Power Group Corp Ltd (HKG:0916) has secured project financing for 244 MW of wind parks in South Africa. Its parent China Guodian Corp (CGC) said on Tuesday that the projects are entering construction.

More details at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/enel-green-building-231-mw-of-pv-plants-in-s-africa-467383

and at: http://renewables.seenews.com/news/china-longyuan-bags-all-funds-for-244-mw-of-s-africa-wind-projects-467204

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