Frimley, 09.07.2012
Siemens will supply, install and service the 8 SWT 3.0-101 direct drive turbines, which will be supported by a fifteen-year LTP (Long Term Programme) service contract for the Maerdy wind farm, located in the Rhondda valley, South Wales. The new farm is being constructed by Velocita Energy Developments Ltd., a wind energy company formed in 2011 to develop, construct, own and operate wind assets across Europe. Velocita is owned by Riverstone Holdings LLC, a leading energy and power-focused private equity firm.
The turbines will be installed using Siemens new 94 metre tower, which combined with the 101 metre rotor, will result in a total tip height of 145 metres. The project has a total capacity of 24 megawatt (MW) of wind energy and will generate enough energy to power over 13,400 homes. The development is being delivered by Siemens UK project and service teams and will create local jobs during the construction and operations phases.
Nick Ward, head of sales for Siemens Wind Power said: “We are delighted to be working with Velocita on its first European project, which will utilise our gearless technology and will be provided with long-term support from our renewables service team. Last year, we successfully introduced our direct drive technology into Scotland, which is already exporting energy to the National Grid and has been a great success.
The Maerdy wind farm project will deliver many benefits to the local community through green energy generation and the creation of local jobs. Siemens renewable service technicians will maintain the turbines over the next fifteen years, which also creates long-term employment opportunities. “
The turbines will be delivered in December 2012 and the project will be completed and handed over to Velocita in March 2013.
Siemens already has a sizeable wind power business in Wales, which includes both onshore and offshore projects. Onshore, Siemens successfully completed the Alltwalis wind farm in 2010 and will soon to start construction at the Mynydd y Betws wind farm in South Wales. One of the largest offshore projects, Gwynt-y-Môr is in development and Siemens also developed the Rhyl Flats project in North Wales. Siemens already employs a service technician workforce supporting wind farm developments across the country and works with many local suppliers, such as tower manufacturer Mabey Bridge.
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Notes to editors:
About Siemens in the UK
Siemens was established in the United Kingdom 169 years ago and now employs 12,972 people in the UK. Last year’s revenues were £4.4 billion*. As a leading global engineering and technology services company, Siemens provides innovative solutions to help tackle the world’s major challenges, across the key sectors of energy, industry, infrastructure & cities and healthcare. Siemens has offices and factories throughout the UK, with its headquarters in Frimley, Surrey. The company’s global headquarters is in Munich, Germany. For more information, visit www.siemens.co.uk
* Data includes intercompany revenue. Data may not be comparable with revenue reported in annual or interim reports.
About Maerdy Wind Farm
For more information about the development, visit http://www.maerdywindfarm.co.uk/
About Velocita Energy
Velocita Energy Developments Ltd is a wind energy company that was formed to develop, construct, own and operate wind assets in select European markets. The Maerdy Wind farm is Velocita’s first UK investment. Velocita Energy Developments Ltd is owned by funds affiliated with Riverstone Holding LLC.
About Riverstone Holdings LLC
Founded in 2000, Riverstone Holdings LLC is an energy and power-focused private equity firm with over $20 billion of equity capital raised across seven investment funds and co-investments, including the world's largest renewable energy fund. Riverstone conducts buyout and growth capital investments in the midstream, exploration & production, oilfield services, power and renewable sectors of the energy industry. With offices in New York, London and Houston, the firm has committed over $18.1 billion to 85 investments in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. For more information, please visit www.riverstonellc.com.
Press contacts:
Siemens
Rachel Odams
PR Manager
Siemens plc
Tel. +44 (0)1604 696614
Mob: +44 (0)7808 824209
Velocita Energy and Riverstone Holdings
Andrew Lee
Tel +44 207 550 5646
or
Kekst and Company James David
Tel +1-212-521-4825
Jeffrey Taufield
Tel +1-212-521-4815
