Apr 12 2010
AES Corporation’s subsidiary AES Wind Generation has acquired a United Kingdom-based wind company Your Energy Ltd (YEL) and a 51% stake in a Poland-based wind company 3E. These investments will help AES Wind Generation generate over 700 MW of clean energy in Europe. Furthermore, the Q1 of 2010 saw AES Wind Generation bringing three of its existing projects into commercial-scale operation in Europe, such as the St. Patrick project with 35 MW capacity in France, the St. Nikola Kavarna project with 156 MW of capacity in Bulgaria and the North Rhins project with 22 MW of capacity in Scotland.
Both Poland and the U.K., in compliance with the 2009 EU Renewable Energy Directive, will need to meet 15% of their overall energy use through renewable energy by 2020, and to this end wind installations are likely to play a key role. According to the Europe Wind Energy Market Forecast Update for Q4 of 2009 by Emerging Energy Research, Poland and the U.K. are likely to increase their wind operating capacities by 6 and 20 GW, respectively, by 2020 in order to meet their European renewable targets.
The YEL acquisition includes a wind energy development pipeline of over 300 MW. Out of that, AES Wind Generation intends to commence construction on 48 MW in late 2010.
AES Wind Generation’s agreement with 3E signifies its entrance into the wind market of Poland, where it intends to commence construction on around 120 MW in 2011 and around 34 MW in 2010.
Globally, AES Wind Generation has around 1,700 MW of wind energy capacity in operation and intends to add 99 MW in China by the year end of 2010. The year 2010 also witnessed AES Wind Generation acquiring the Armenia Mountain project having capacity of 101 MW in Pennsylvania, U.S. Currently, the company’s development pipeline includes wind projects of around 6,000 MW of capacity across North America, Europe, and Asia.
Source: http://www.aes.com/