Since the inaugural installation of a V10-30 kW turbine in Denmark in 1979, Vestas has installed over 66,000 turbines in around 80 countries across six continents and been a key part of taking wind energy from niche to mainstream. Currently, the company’s largest onshore wind turbine is the V150-4.2 MW turbine. The 100 GW milestone, achieved by the company in late 2018, has been made possible by the continuous evolution of its wind energy technology and solutions, which have seen output and efficiency increase to a level that has made wind energy the cheapest form of electricity in many markets.
“We have pioneered wind energy across the globe for 40 years, and to install 100 GW together with our customers and partners is something we are extremely proud of as it underlines how far Vestas and wind energy have come” said Anders Runevad, Vestas President and CEO. “It’s also a pleasure to celebrate this milestone with a key customer like MidAmerican Energy. Reaching this milestone has required continuous innovation, strong commitment and great execution from all Vestas’ employees, and the 100 GW therefore represents a key part of the foundation that enables us to develop the sustainable energy solutions of the future”.
According to data from Bloomberg New Energy Finance, by crossing the 100 GW threshold, Vestas has installed approximately 10 percent of the world’s total 1 TW of installed wind and solar energy capacity.
The capacity of the Wind XI project will grow to up to 2,000 MW and consist of multiple sites in Iowa placed into service between 2017 and 2019. Powered by V110-2.0 MW turbines built at Vestas’ factories in Colorado, Wind XI will deliver clean, low-cost wind energy to MidAmerican Energy’s customers and communities. The company will also provide operations and maintenance for Wind XI project sites via long-term AOM 5000 service agreements.
Based on global average electricity, 100 GW of wind energy saves around 129 million tonnes of CO2 annually2, equalling CO2 emissions from:
141 billion pounds of burned coal
298 million barrels of oil
22.54 million U.S. homes yearly electricity use
33 coal-fired power plants
Carbon sequestered from 152 million acres of forest
(Source: Environmental Protection Agency Green House Gas equivalencies calculator)
For additional information:
