Posted on 29 Dec 2010
MidAmerican Energy Co is moving forward with a plan to install 258 wind turbines in Iowa, Steel Business Briefing learns. Under a project aimed at generating enough power for 190,000 homes, MidAmerican Energy has contracted with Siemens Energy Inc to supply the 2.3-megawatt turbines that will be erected in five Iowa counties next year.
Those turbines apparently would be significantly larger than the "standard-size" 1.5m megawatt wind towers which the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) estimates include at least 120 tonnes of steel - mostly plate. Rene Umlauft, CEO of Siemens' renewable energy division, said in a statement the turbines would be produced in factories in Iowa and Kansas. Delivery and commissioning is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2011 and be completed by early 2012, the company said. Siemens said the agreement with MidAmerican Energy - the largest power utility in Iowa - is the largest onshore wind turbine order the company has received to date. Neither party disclosed the amount of the contract or how much will be invested overall in the project. Those turbines apparently would be significantly larger than the "standard-size" 1.5m megawatt wind towers which the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) estimates include at least 120 tonnes of steel - mostly plate. Rene Umlauft, CEO of Siemens' renewable energy division, said in a statement the turbines would be produced in factories in Iowa and Kansas. Delivery and commissioning is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2011 and be completed by early 2012, the company said. Siemens said the agreement with MidAmerican Energy - the largest power utility in Iowa - is the largest onshore wind turbine order the company has received to date. Neither party disclosed the amount of the contract or how much will be invested overall in the project.
