The contract with the Hamburg, Germany-based firm includes delivery, installation and commissioning of 50 SWT-2.3-101 wind turbines with a power rating of 2,3 MW and a rotor diameter of 101 meters, including a five-year service and maintenance contract.
With a rotor diameter of 101 meters, the powerful wind turbine SWT-2.3-101, which is ideally suited to sites with low to medium wind speeds, will provide more power at lower wind speeds, significantly increasing the return on investment of wind farms.
"The El Arrayán wind power plant marks our market entry in Chile. This project also proves that we are well positioned on the global wind markets with our product portfolio. It is our goal to grow our presence in this region", said Felix Ferlemann, CEO of the Siemens Wind Power Division.
The Global Wind Energy Council concluded that Chile has good wind resources from the northern deserts to the extreme South and estimates the country's wind energy potential to be around 40 GW.
The El Arrayán Wind Farm is located approximately 400 kilometers north of Santiago on the coast of the Coquimbo IV Region. Once completed, it will be the largest wind project in Chile and provide clean and renewable energy to power the equivalent of up to 200,000 average households.
Installation of the project is scheduled to begin in spring 2013, with commissioning of the wind power plant planned for early 2014.
In related news, the mining division of Antofagasta plc, which is the parent company of Minera Los Pelambres, the power offtaker, has purchased an equity stake in the El Arrayán project.
For additional information:
