Nordex secures 312MW US order for 4MW-plus turbines

Nordex has secured an order to supply an unspecified 312MW wind farm in Texas, as the US’ preference for 4MW-plus turbines grows stronger.

It will supply 65 of its N149/4.0-4.5 turbines operating at 4.8MW mode to an undisclosed customer.

The manufacturer will begin installation in May 2021 ahead of project commissioning later in the year.

Nordex’s chief sales officer Patxi Landa said that the manufacturer “is now delivering and installing” 265 units of the 4.8MW version of its N149/4.0-4.5 model in North America, with a combined capacity of 1,272MW.

He added: “These turbines exceed the average nominal capacity of last year’s installed onshore turbines by more than 2MW in the US.”

The average nominal capacity of newly installed onshore wind turbines in North America last year was around 2.55MW, with no turbines more powerful than 4MW being installed, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

Most turbines installed in the first six months of 2020 were rated 2-3MW, Nordex stated – again citing AWEA figures.

But the average rated capacity of US turbines is set to inch up, as there are currently more than 5GW of US wind farms with plans to use turbines in the 4MW-plus category, according to AWEA.