By Isabella Kaminski

As part of the agreement with Pioneer Generation, a community-owned electricity company in New Zealand, Gamesa will supply 9 of its G52-850 kW wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 7.65 MW.

The wind turbines will be used at the Mount Stuart wind farm in Otago, in the south-east of New Zealand’s South Island.

The contract, which includes manufacturing and shipping the generators and supervising installation and commissioning, will help New Zealand reach its target of generating 90% of power from renewable sources by 2025.

The wind farm is scheduled to become operational in 2011, when it will produce enough electricity to meet the annual energy needs of about 3,350 homes.

The move is Gamesa’s first entry into the Asia-Pacific wind power market. The company will set up a subsidiary in the region with a head office in Singapore to deal with project support, operation and maintenance. Gamesa said it is also considering setting up a technology centre in the country.

Ramón Terrones, Regional Director of Asia Pacific & Oceania for Gamesa, says: “Gamesa’s strategy in the Asia-Pacific region includes establishing a firm presence in the medium-long term.”