Alstom will supply 9 ECO 122 to the Vartinoja wind farm in Finland

Alstom has signed a new contract with Vartinoja 1 Ky to supply a wind farm  located in Siikajoki, Northern Finland. The turnkey contract is worth 35 million  and covers the engineering, manufacture, delivery and commissioning of 9 ECO 122 wind turbines of the 2.7 MW capacity model, ideal for medium and low wind sites. Together they will generate a maximum capacity of 24 MW. The contract also includes 12 years of operation and maintenance services.

The wind turbines for Vartinoja farm will be equipped with Cold Climate Version to suit the Finnish winter conditions. The hub height is 119 metres (concrete foundation and steel tower). The construction has been developed by the Finnish company Keski-Suomen Betonirakenne Oy with Alstoms support for its integration. 

The civil works at Vartinoja have started in Spring 2014, and the engineering of the wind turbines, which will be built in Alstoms manufacturing facilities in Spain, during spring 2015. The wind farm is scheduled to be in operation in autumn 2015. 

The operation and maintenance services (O&M) for Vartinoja will be carried out by Alstoms Finnish unit, which is already operating and maintaining the Muukko 21 MW wind farm with 7 ECO110 wind turbines, supplied by Alstom and in operation since summer 2013.

In Muukko wind farm, Alstom, TuuliMuukko, TuuliSaimaa and Lappeenranta University of Technology (LUT) are also carrying out under an exclusive contract research & development work to deepen the understanding of how wind turbines respond under arctic climate conditions to further improve turbine operations, performance and reliability. The research teams will also study the application of advanced ice detection sensors.

Alstom is happy to contribute to CO2 free energy production in Finland by supplying the wind turbines for Vartinoja wind farm, stated Alstom Senior Vice President of the Wind business, Yves Rannou. With this project we have strengthened our strategy to be a strong local player in wind power. The R&D cooperation agreement with LUT and TuuliSaimaa to develop cold climate technologies for the wind turbines is on-going and with our excellent local Finnish engineering partners we have an exciting possibility to build on a compelling offering for the Nordic market.

[1] Owned by LähiTapiola and TuuliSaimaa.
[2]  The contract will be booked during the second quarter of Fiscal year 2014/2015