A huge order from the nascent Colombian wind turbine market has lifted the year-end tally of announced orders at Danish manufacturer Vestas to beyond 15.5GW in 2020.

The 504MW order for 90 of the OEM's V162-5.6MW En Ventus machines from an undisclosed customer came as the high point of a winning streak announced on the last day of the year that spanned three continents.

It will be the first project in Latin America to feature turbines from the EnVentus platform, which already have achieved a global order intake of more than 2GW.

“The EnVentus platform establishes a new benchmark in competitiveness, and we expect it to make a huge contribution to the energy transition both in Colombia and in Latin America over the coming years,” said Vestas vice president for Latin America North, Agustín Sánchez Tembleque.

A latecomer to the energy transition, Colombia had held its first renewables tender in October of 2019, when 1.3GW of wind and solar power were auctioned off. The country plans to carry out a second auction of around 5GW during the first quarter of 2021, which according to analyst Rystad will see developers "flocking to the north eastern region of the country."

Sydbank chief analyst Jacob Pedersen reckons that there was about another 1GW in unannounced orders by Vestas last year, which when added would bring total 2020 orders to just above 16.5GW – somewhat more than expected but less than the record of 17.9GW from 2019.

Finland, Brazil, India

Vestas also continued its winning streak on the last day of the year with a series orders in Finland, Spain, Brazil and India.

In Europe, the manufacturer received a 90MW order for the upgraded V162-6.0MW model of its EnVentus platform in Finland.

The Finnish order by Ålandsbanken for the Murtomaki wind project for the six turbines comes with a 30-year service agreement, and brings orders for EnVentus machines in the Nordic country to more than 600MW.

“We are certain that the competitiveness of the V162-6.0 MW turbine together with the key focus on Finland and our long-term service offering ensures maximum value for our customer’s business case,” Vestas Northern & Central Europe president Nils de Baar said.

Turbine delivery is expected to start in the second quarter of 2023, with commissioning planned for the third quarter of the same year.

“Murtomäki wind farm with Vestas turbines is the first investment of the newly established Wind Power Fund of Ålandsbanken,” said Juha Känkänen, Investment Director of Ålandsbanken Funds.

“We would like to thank the Vestas team for its efforts in bringing down the levelized cost of energy and constructive approach during contract negotiations.”

Finland is in the middle of an unprecedented wind power boom as the country has the ambition to become fossil-free by 2035, which would make it the first ‘welfare state’ in the world to do so.

Further in Europe, Vestas scored with a 35MW EPC order for sixteen of its V120-2.2MW turbines by an undisclosed customer in Spain, as well as a 46MW order for 11 of its V136-4.2MW machines for another wind project in the Iberian country. Delivery for the second project is expected by the second half of 2021, with commissioning planned by the first half of 2022.

Pernambuco and Karnataka joy

Vestas also secured a 95MW order from European Energy, in partnership with Eólica Tecnologia, for the Ouro Branco and Quatro Ventos projects in the northeastern Brazilian state of Pernambuco.

The order comprises 21 of the OEM's V150-4.2 MW turbines delivered in a 4.5 MW power mode with 120m towers together with a ten-year service contract.

“European Energy is a valued customer to Vestas globally and we look forward to building upon our existing partnership in Brazil," said Vestas Brazil sales director Eric Gomes.

"Both projects will feature our most recent 4MW platform technology, ensuring optimal power production for the local wind conditions and maximum value for our customer’s business case.”

The order is for projects that were successful in Brazil's 2017 A-6 new energy auction for the regulated market.

Turbine delivery is planned for mid-2022, with commissioning expected by the end of the same year.

The OEM also won a small order in India, for the 17MW Hospet project in Karnataka to which it will supply seven of its V120-2.2MW turbines.

UPDATES with details on Brazilian order

Wind

Huge Colombian wind deal boosts Vestas year-end order tally