Neoen, Prokon start building 161.2 MW of wind farms in Finland

May 24 (Renewables Now) - French renewable power producer Neoen SA (EPA:NEOEN) on Monday announced the start of construction of two wind farms in Finland, the 105.4-MW Storbotet wind farm in the municipality of Uusikaarlepyy, Ostrobothnia region and the 55.8-MW Lumivaara wind farm in the municipality of Hyrynsalmi, Kainuu region.

Neoen owns 80% of each project, while 20% is held by the local unit of German renewables cooperative Prokon.

The project owners have provided notice to proceed to wind turbine maker Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS), which will supply 17 machines for the Storbotet project and nine turbines for the smaller scheme. The capacities of the two wind farms have been increased from their originally planned 95 MW and 53 MW, respectively.

Both facilities have 10-year power purchase agreements (PPAs) with data centre company Equinix Inc (NASDAQ: EQIX), which relate to 60% of Storbotet’s power generation and guarantees of origin and 80% of Lumivaara’s. The wind power plants are expected to be fully operational in 2025.

Neoen said that it now has over 700 MW in operation or under construction in Finland, with nine PPAs signed in the country.

“Working with our client Equinix, we are once again proving that PPAs are a viable way of delivering highly competitive green energy projects without government subsidies,” remarked Henning von Stechow, chief executive of Prokon Regenerative Energien eG, the parent of Prokon Wind Energy Finland Oy.

“We are delighted to be working with Vestas once again and with Equinix, with whom we have signed three PPAs – building on the foundations of existing relationships is a powerful way to boost our growth,” commented Neoen chairman and chief executive Xavier Barbaro.