Vestas has unveiled almost 900MW of orders in the US as the Danish group maintained its strong performance in the American market.
The Danish turbine group will supply 459MW of V136-4.2 MW turbines operating in 4.3 MW power optimised mode to PacifiCorp, a subsidiary of billionaire Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Energy.
The Vestas machines will be deployed at PacifiCorp's TB Flats 1 and 2 projects in Wyoming, marking further inroads for the larger turbines that are gaining traction in the US wind sector.
The deal follows repowering orders booked with Vestas by PacifiCorp last year.
PacifiCorp, the largest regulated electric utility within Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway empire, is in the middle of a $3.5bn wind expansion programme to take advantage of the slowly-expiring production tax credit (PTC) incentive.
The order includes a 12-year service agreement. Turbine delivery will begin in the second quarter of 2020, with commissioning scheduled for the fourth quarter, Vestas said.
The wind OEM will also deliver 420MW of its V120-2.2 MW turbines to another, undisclosed US customer next year.
The US market – running hot on the back of the PTC – has proved fertile ground for Vestas, which for the last few years has contested dominance there with local giant GE Renewable Energy.
According to latest data from industry body the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), by the end of March GE held 8.32GW, or 44%, of all projects under construction or in advanced development totaling 20.34GW that have reported a turbine manufacturer, versus Vestas with 7.69GW, or 41%.
Vestas delivered more than 2.8GW of turbines in the US last year, making it by far the single largest destination for the company’s machines in 2018.
The manufacturer delivered another 704MW to the US market in the first quarter of 2019, Vestas disclosed this week, while it booked more than 1GW of orders in the January to March period.
CEO Anders Runevad said this week that he will step down at Vestas in August to be replaced by Henrik Andersen, currently chief executive at Hempel.
Note: Update adds PacifiCorp order