Siemens agreed to supply 21 wind turbines to NJR Clean Energy Ventures (NJRCEV), a subsidiary of New Jersey Resources (NJR), for the 48-MW, Kansas-based Alexander wind project, located in Rush, Kan. A service and maintenance agreement was also signed to help ensure the turbines operate at optimal levels.
NJRCEV will be investing up to approximately $85 million in the Alexander project, and is responsible for constructing, owning and operating the wind farm. The Alexander project, located 120 miles northwest of Wichita, covers 7,000 acres of rural agricultural land, and will produce energy for customers through PPAs. It is expected to be operational in the fall of 2015.
The project’s 21 SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines are part of Siemens G2 platform of onshore geared products – the workhorse of Siemens installed portfolio with rotor diameters optimized for all wind conditions. The G2 platform features highly-engineered, designed and manufactured components, exceptional reliability, intelligence and low operational costs for an optimized return on investment.
The nacelles for this project will be assembled at Siemens nearby facility in Hutchinson, Kan. and the blades will be manufactured at the Siemens blade facility in Fort Madison, Iowa.
“This project has a special meaning, as the Alexander wind farm is just up the road from our nacelle assembly plant,” says Jacob Andersen, CEO Onshore Americas, Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. “Wind power in the U.S. continues to show its value as a reliable, cost-effective and clean form of energy, and this partnership between a committed investor, high-quality vendors and willing customers is a great example of the commitment to wind power and renewable energy in the U.S.”
Siemens recently hit the 10-GW installed capacity milestone in the Americas, with its 5,600 installed wind turbines in Canada, the U.S. and South America. Nearly 5,000 wind turbines are in the U.S., and are capable of producing clean, renewable power for more than 2.5 million households every day.