Denmark's Vestas, a leading global maker of wind turbines, said on March 31 that it had won a contract to supply 111 turbines to west Australia, marking its biggest contract in the country.
The turbines, each capable of generating nearly 2.0 megawatts, represent a total power output of 206 megawatts.
They are to be installed in Collgar wind park about 300 kilometers (188 miles) from Perth which is being financed by Swiss bank UBS and by an Australian fund. The first turbines are to be delivered in the second or third quarter of this year and the entire order should be completed in the second half of 2012, Vestas said.
The Danish company also has a 10-year maintenance contract.
Vestas did not give the value of the contract, but said that the order would not affect the group's forecast results for this year. In February the company reduced its forecast for sales this year to a total of about 7.0 billion euros from 7.0-8.0 billion euros expected previously.
Vestas, which took an early global lead in the production of wind turbines, suffered a 12.5% fall in its market share last year, and is now running level with competitor General Electric.
Last year the company reported a net profit of 579 million euros (US$776 million.)
Vestas has turned the focus of its sales drive from Europe towards new markets in the United States and Asia. For this year it expects to take firm orders totalling 8,000-9,000 megawatts, achieving half of these sales in Europe, 30% in North and South America, and 20% in Asia-Oceania.
It also intends to launch a giant turbine capable of producing 6.0 megawatts to face up to increasing competition.
Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2010
