Alstom signed a contract worth around 120 million euros[1] with Tractebel Energia Brasil, the largest private power generator in Brazil, to supply 36 units of ECO 122 wind turbines to Trairí II project, a wind farm located in Ceará State, Northeast of Brazil. The commissioning of Trairí project is scheduled for mid-2016 and will generate97.2MW.
Alstom’s scope includes the supply of 36 units of ECO 122 wind turbines of 2.7 MW each. In addition, Alstom will be in charge of the operation and maintenance of the wind farm for ten years.
For the first time, Alstom’s wind turbines will feature 119-metre concrete towers specifically designed for ECO 122, delivered in consortium with Freyssinet[2]. This new tower will be made of 11 concrete sections, the lowest measuring 7.20 meters in diameter, for the base of the structure. A unique installation method based on proven hydraulic lifting techniques used in civil engineering will be used to facilitate the assembly of the nacelle and tower at their final height.
The nacelles of the wind turbines will be manufactured at Alstom's plant in Bahia, taking full advantage of the company’s investments in the country.
Yves Rannou, Senior Vice President of Alstom Wind business, said:“The Trairí II project will be the first to use our new 119m towers that allow us to better harness wind resources regardless of wind characteristics. As such, it confirms the value our customers place on our investments in developing innovative wind turbines.”
The ECO 122 wind turbine has one of the biggest rotor diameters within the 2 MW to 3 MW onshore turbine market segment. It combines high power and high capacity factor[3] to boost energy yield in low wind regions, and thus fits perfectly with the Brazilian wind conditions. It is the latest evolution of Alstom’s proven ECO 100 turbine platform and the result of more than 30 years of experience in wind turbine design. The ECO 100 platform now has more than 1000 MW installed or under construction worldwide and over 200,000 cumulative operating hours since 2008. All Alstom wind turbines are based upon the unique and proven Alstom Pure Torque® rotor support concept that protects the drive train from deflection loads, ensuring higher reliability and lower maintenance costs.
Alstom, present in Brazil for almost 60 years, is responsible for almost 30% of the power generation market in the country. Since 2010, Alstom has signed contracts in Brazil to provide more than 2000 MW in wind projects, including the supply of over 600 ECO 122 wind turbines.
[1] To be booked in Q2 of current fiscal year
[2] Member of Soletanche Freyssinet Group, world leader in specialized civil engineering
[3] Capacity Factor is an indicator of how much energy a wind turbine produces in a particular location, over a year. Since wind speed is not constant, a wind turbine's annual energy production is never as much as its MW rating multiplied by total hours in a year. Capacity factor is the ratio of the actual energy produced in a year- to the theoretical maximum possible if the turbine is running full time at full power output.