Gamesa has signed binding agreements with Areva to form a 50:50 joint venture (JV) with focus on the offshore wind energy industry, following completion of exclusive talks initiated in January 2013. The JV aims to secure a 20% share of the European offshore wind market by 2020 and deliver 2.8GW of capacity. The transaction, which is subject to approvals by the French Government and the relevant competition authorities in Europe and other jurisdictions, will combine both the companies’ expertise in delivering turbines to the offshore wind market. The offshore wind market is expected to cross 25GW in Europe and 18GW in Asia by 2020. Under the terms of the accord, Gamesa will contribute assets worth €195m including its 5MW offshore platform; offshore R&D knowledge transfer and license of the onshore technology that can be applied offshore; extensive operations and maintenance ability, and industrial know-how and supply chain access.

Additionally, Areva will contribute assets valued at €280m, which include 5MW and 8MW offshore platforms; a 2.8GW pipeline, the offshore market’s second largest; offshore R&D and engineering knowledge transfer, and offshore manufacturing and logistics capabilities, as part of the agreement. The new company will further develop the upcoming 8MW platform to reduce costs with a view towards installation by 2021 at 1GW of sites recently won by Areva in France’s second offshore wind tender. With registered headquarters in Zamudio, Spain and the executive committee to be based in Paris, France, the JV will fulfill existing Areva industrial development commitments in France and the UK. The transaction is expected to be completed by the fourth quarter of 2014.

Gamesa has reached an agreement to support the construction of a 50MW wind farm located in the Department of Flores in Uruguay, for Astidey.

Under the terms of the agreement, Gamesa will supply, transport, install and commission 25 G97-2.0MW turbines at the Talas de Maciel I wind farm.

Gamesa will also operate and maintain the facility for 20 years while the turbines are scheduled to be delivered over the course of 2014.

Expected to be fully commissioned by mid next year, the project financing is sponsored by the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank of the US.

Gamesa has installed 100MW in Uruguay to date, and with the new contract, the company will supply another 150MW.

Gamesa also installed more than 1,900MW of turbines in other Latin American markets, including Mexico, Honduras, Argentina and Costa Rica.

The G97-2.0MW turbines are most versatile on the market, with five different rotors (G80-2.0MW, G87-2.0MW, G90-2.0MW, G97-2.0MW, G114-2.0MW y G114-2.5MW), tower heights ranging from 60m to 125m and environmental alternatives to enable installation at even the most complex sites.

The Gamesa G97-2.0 MW wind turbine features low power density and contributes towards one of the company’s top priorities, which include significantly cutting the cost of energy (CoE) of Gamesa’s low and medium wind speed products.