Siemens has been awarded an order from Apex Clean Energy to supply, support installation and provide long-term service for 130 wind turbines for the Kay Wind project to be located in Kay County, Oklahoma. When completed, Southern Company will acquire the wind project through its subsidiary, Southern Power.
“Wind power helps form the backbone of an energy mix that is affordable, reliable and sustainable,” said Jacob Andersen, CEO Onshore Americas, Siemens Wind Power and Renewables Division. “America’s wind industry helps deliver clean energy while also sustaining jobs here in the United States. Siemens is proud that workers at our factories in the Midwest will produce the blades and nacelles for this project.”
Apex President Mark Goodwin said, “This project will help boost the Kay County economy and support local schools, while helping to reduce rates for energy consumers in the Southwest Power Pool system.”
The 299MW project is being built and will be operated and maintained by Apex Clean Energy and it is expected to achieve commercial operation in the fourth quarter of 2015.The wind plant is expected to create enough clean energy to power approximately 100,000 average U.S. homes annually. Power produced at the site will be purchased by Westar Energy and GRDA. The project will feature Siemens SWT-2.3-108 wind turbines, each with a power rating of 2.3 MW and 53 meter blades.
"Southern Company first earned a reputation as a national leader in renewables through Southern Power's investments in utility-scale solar," said Southern Company Chairman, President and CEO Thomas A. Fanning. "Through the acquisition of the Kay Wind project – the Southern Company system's first wind facility and largest renewable energy project to date – we are further diversifying our generation portfolio by expanding to a region with abundant wind resources."
A long-term service and maintenance agreement was also signed for the project and includes Siemens’ remote monitoring and diagnostic services, which offer a proactive approach to service and maintenance to help bolster the performance of the turbines during their lifetime. Siemens’ Financial Services (SFS) Division has committed to fund up to $80 million of the project's construction financing.
Furthermore, the electricity and associated renewable energy credits (RECs) generated by the facility will be sold under 20-year power purchase agreements with Westar Energy, Inc. in Kansas and Grand River Dam Authority (GRDA) in Oklahoma. Westar Energy, Inc. has contracted for approximately 199 MW and GRDA has contracted for approximately 100 MW. Both companies will have the option to either keep or sell the RECs.
(Photo Credit: Siemens)