Vestas Wind Acquires US Service Agreement

Vestas Wind announced Thursday that it had been awarded a service agreement for the 102 MW Coram Wind Project in California.

Much is made of new renewable energy projects — and rightly so, considering the ever-increasing need for low-carbon energy generation. But one of the often overlooked aspects of these new renewable energy projects is the continued operation and maintenance. However, studies have concluded that service agreements and operation and maintenance (O&M) contracts are soon to become big business in the renewable energy industry, as initial service agreements run out and new O&M companies step in.

However, it won’t just be new O&M companies stepping in to fill service agreements, but the traditional development companies as well.

Vestas’ latest announcement covering the agreement for a 5-year Active Output Management (AOM) 5000 package for the 102 MW Coram Wind Project located in the Tehachapi region of California is proof of this, reflecting “Vestas’ service business flexibility.”

“The wind industry is evolving with the entry of financial investors seeking dependable cash flows from smoothly operating projects employing mature technology,” says Chris Brown, President of Vestas’ sales and service division in the United States and Canada. “As the industry changes, Vestas is changing with it, tailoring our traditional service approach to meet customer needs, including a complete asset management solution. Combined with our unique ability to continuously improve the productivity of Vestas turbines throughout their operating lifetimes, we think that’s an unbeatable combination.”

The new agreement, in addition to the 5-year service agreement, also includes maintenance of balance-of-plant electrical equipment, wildlife and vegetation management, care of meteorological equipment, road and fencing maintenance, and other tasks.