Acciona wins Mexican wind-park project

Acciona Energy has won a € 450 million contract for the construction and operation of three wind parks totalling 306 MW in Oaxaca State, Mexico.

Construction work will begin later this year and the parks, which will feature 204 Acciona Windpower AW 70/1500 1.5 MW wind turbines, are expected to come into operation in 2011.

The deal accounts for 12,7 % of the wind power implementation objective to 2013 envisaged in Acciona's Strategic Plan.

The contract, which is being carried out on behalf of Mexico's Federal Electricity Commission (CFE), further cements Acciona's leadership of Mexico's wind power sector, the company said in a statement.

It added the company already has wind power installations located in an area with excellent wind potential and which ensure a profitable return on investment in a country that stands among Acciona's key markets.

The wind parks awarded by the CFE - Oaxaca II, Oaxaca III and Oaxaca IV (102 MW each) - will be located in the Isthmus of Tehuantepec region and are expected to be operating commercially by December 23, 2011.

According to CFE estimates, annual average output of the three wind parks will total around 1129 GWh.

As well as marketing the energy produced at these facilities, these wind parks will be able to obtain and sell Emission Reduction Certificates, as Mexico is eligible for the Kyoto Protocol's Clean Development Mechanisms, the statement said.