November 16, 2009
Suzlon receives 21 MW US order
Project part of Minnesotas innovative community based wind model
Chicago: Suzlon Wind Energy Corp., the North American subsidiary of Suzlon Energy
Limited (SEL) - the world's third largest wind turbine group, with 12.3 per cent of
global market share* - announced a new order for the community-based Grant County
Wind Farm in southwestern Minnesota, USA. Developed by ">Juhl Wind (Juhl) of
Woodstock, Minn., the project consists of 10 Suzlon S88 2.1 MW wind turbines and at
full capacity will produce 21 megawatts, enough energy to power 7,000 homes in the
area.
The Grant County Wind Farm is a Community-Based Energy Development (C-BED)
project and is partially owned by local farmers. C-BED is an initiative in Minnesota that
fosters the development of renewable energy by optimizing local and regional
agricultural and economic resources. This often allows for interconnection of smaller
renewable energy systems to the larger power grid and cost-sharing, creating a stable
market for renewable energy.
Were excited to be a part of this community-run project to help generate clean wind
power and revenue for farmers and towns in the region, said Andris Cukurs, CEO of
Suzlon Wind Energy Corp. Currently, community-run wind power projects are rare in
the U.S., but the Grant County project is proof that renewable energy can be
actualized in a variety of ways.
The project is interconnected with Otter Tail Power Company and Northern States
Power (NSP) is purchasing the clean energy. The Grant County Wind Farm will join
Otter Tails existing 45 megawatts of renewable energy on the grid, while NSP - a
leading electric utility company - will offer the electricity to its service territory spread
across the northern states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Dakotas and Michigans Upper
Peninsula.
Once again, we are happy to partner with Suzlon and Minnesota farmers on wind
energy development, and expanding to Grant County, said Dan Juhl, CEO of Juhl
Wind, which was Suzlons first customer in the U.S. Community wind farms help
farmers diversify their revenue streams while producing renewable energy for the local
area. We have worked with Suzlon for several years now and have been pleased with
the partnership in bringing Suzlon machines to Minnesota communities desiring a
sustainable power supply.
The Grant County Wind Farm is a great example of a community-led initiative for
renewable energy, said Denise Bode, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association.
The perks of wind power arent exclusive to developers and utilities alone; this project
shows how citizens can save money and be more energy efficient through their own
renewable energy projects.
Construction on the site has already begun. The wind farm is expected to be in
commercial operation in the first quarter of 2010.
