Macquarie Group’s Green Investment Group and GE have partnered to deliver and operate the 650MW Markbygden ETT wind farm to be located in Northern Sweden.

The companies have raised about €800m in financing for the construction of the wind farm.

While the construction of the wind farm has already commenced, the commissioning of the turbines is scheduled to begin in the second half of next year.

The wind farm, which will increase the total installed wind capacity of Sweden by 12.5%, is expected to become fully operational by the end of 2019.

The project will include 179 of GE’s 3.6MW turbines, each with 137m rotors. These turbines are claimed to be ideally suited for the wind conditions and climate in the region.

To ensure a stable level of availability and reduced downtime, the turbine blades will be equipped with ice mitigation system supplied by LM Wind Power.

Green Investment Group Europe head Edward Northam said: “This project is a landmark transaction on many fronts and represents the new frontier in European onshore wind. It demonstrates that in the right market, with the right location, the right technology and the right partners, it is possible to develop and attract private capital into new onshore wind farms.”

As part of the supply deal, GE will offer service for 20 years and will supply high voltage switchgear for two collector substations at the wind farm.

The project was acquired by GE Energy Financial Services and Green Investment Group from Svevind. 

Green Investment Group and GE have also entered into a 19-year fixed volume power purchase agreement (PPA) with a subsidiary of Norsk Hydro to supply the power generated from the wind farm.

GE Onshore Wind Business president & CEO Pete McCabe said: “We are excited to have been chosen by Svevind to contribute to this massive project. Markbygden ETT marks our commitment to the Swedish onshore wind arena and extends our presence in Europe while showcasing our technical capabilities – with LM Wind Power – and project development and management differentiators.”

Image: GIG and GE to construct 650MW wind farm in Sweden. Photo: Courtesy of Green Investment Group.