Background and Relevance of the Parties Involved
Global Power Generation (GPG), the renewable energy generation subsidiary of Spanish energy company Naturgy, has entered into an agreement with Danish wind farm operator, Vestas, to manage and maintain the Bií Hioxo wind farm for the next five years. Located in Oaxaca, on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, this wind farm is one of Mexico’s largest.
About Naturgy
Naturgy is Mexico’s leading private energy company, integrating natural gas distribution and electricity generation businesses. It operates in 14 Mexican states: Aguascalientes, Ciudad de México, Coahuila, Durango, Estado de México, Guanajuato, Jalisco, Nuevo León, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosí, Sonora, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, and Zacatecas.
About Vestas
Vestas, a global leader in wind energy solutions, boasts 189 gigawatts of installed capacity across 88 countries. With Smart Data services and 155 gigawatts of wind turbines, Vestas harnesses extensive data to optimize wind energy production and provide efficient solutions. The company employs over 35,000 people worldwide.
Details of the Bií Hioxo Wind Farm
The Bií Hioxo wind farm spans 1,892 hectares and features 117 Gamesa G80 turbines, each with a capacity of 2 megawatts and a height of 78 meters. The total installed capacity is 234 megawatts.
Mexico’s Wind Energy Landscape
According to the Mexican Wind Energy Association (AMDEE), Mexico has installed 7,782 megawatts of wind energy capacity over the past 20 years. This has resulted in an 8.7% contribution to national energy generation across 74 wind farms in 15 states. Annually, these wind farms produce an estimated 20 million megawatt-hours of energy.
Vestas’ Role in the Agreement
Guillermo Manzo Perez, Vestas’ commercial director for Latin America, expressed his enthusiasm in supporting Naturgy’s challenge. He highlighted Vestas’ commitment to innovation, safety, and quality, ensuring efficient and reliable operation of wind farm projects. With experience in optimizing the performance and lifespan of various turbine brands, Vestas ensures Bií Hioxo’s continued high-efficiency operation.
Challenges and Opportunities
Manzo Perez acknowledged that maintaining a wind farm with turbines from another manufacturer, known as multibrand projects, presents significant challenges. These include integrating diverse technologies, adapting to different maintenance protocols, and ensuring access to specific parts and replacements. However, this agreement also offers the opportunity to optimize investments and maintain uninterrupted energy generation without compromising wind farm performance.
GPG and its Operations
Global Power Generation (GPG) is Naturgy’s majority-owned (75%) electricity generation subsidiary, operating in eight countries with a total installed capacity of 5 gigawatts. GPG employs over 500 people.
Key Questions and Answers
- Who are the main parties involved? Naturgy, a leading private energy company in Mexico, and Vestas, a global wind energy solutions provider.
- What is the Bií Hioxo wind farm’s capacity? The wind farm has a total installed capacity of 234 megawatts, powered by 117 Gamesa G80 turbines.
- What challenges does Vestas face in this agreement? Vestas will manage turbines from another manufacturer, requiring integration of diverse technologies and adapting to different maintenance protocols.
- What opportunities does this agreement present? The partnership allows for optimized investments and ensures continuous energy generation without compromising wind farm performance.
