Shell WindEnergy Inc, a US subsidiary of Shell Renewables, has signed an agreement to acquire its first project with the purchase of a 50 MW wind farm in Wyoming. The company is purchasing the Rock River I wind farm, developed by SeaWest WindPower Inc. The farm will comprise fifty 1 MW Mitsubishi wind turbines.
The Rock River facility will be constructed over the summer and is scheduled to begin generating power in October 2001. All the energy produced, and the emission reduction credits, will be sold to PacifiCorp under a single 20 year power purchase agreement.
The acquisition is the first step towards Shell’s ambition of becoming a leading wind company. It is aiming to acquire an international portfolio of both onshore and offshore wind farms. According to the director of Shell WindEnergy, annual growth in wind capacity is now 25 per cent. In the USA alone 1500 MW of new capacity will be installed in 2001.
Shell Renewables is currently evaluating wind energy projects with an aggregate capacity of over 1000 MW. These are located in the USA, Europe and North Africa. The company was awarded a site off the west coast of England by the UK during its offshore wind energy licensing round. The site, at Shell Flat near Blackpool, will consist of 30 offshore turbines. The project is due to become operational in 2004.
