Renewable Energy Systems Group (RES) has started the construction of the 160MW Rattlesnake wind farm in Texas, US, as it received a notice to proceed from Goldwind Americas.
Goldwind Americas is the subsidiary of Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology, a Chinese wind turbine manufacturer. The wind project will be located in McCulloch County in Texas and it was acquired by Goldwind Americas last May from RES Group
For the Rattlesnake project, RES has partnered with Goldwind for the first time and it is its eighteenth wind project in Texas, so far.
The wind farm will include Goldwind’s 64 turbines each with a capacity to produce 2.5MW.
Goldwind boasts that its turbines are based on Permanent Magnet Direct-Drive (PMDD) with a rotor diameter of 109m. When completed, the wind farm will be Goldwind’s largest in the US till date.
This is the first phase of the project with a total planned output of 320MW. The value of the first phase of the project is expected to be $250m.
Goldwind had recently secured a $130m financing in tax equity from Berkshire Hathaway Energy and Citi. This is considered as the largest ever financing in the US for the Chinese company.
Goldwind Americas CEO David Halligan said: “Goldwind Americas is proud to be working with RES to construct this milestone project, our first project in Texas and first tax equity financed project.”
RES CEO Ivor Catto said: “RES is proud to have already constructed nearly 15% of the total wind power capacity in Texas. Together, with Goldwind Americas, we are creating jobs, reducing emissions and delivering economic benefits to local communities.”
Investment in the US is part of Goldwind’s 2014 strategy to fully-commercialise its turbine technology in the US and to expand its reach across international markets.
Image: RES Group starts construction of Rattlesnake wind farm in Texas, US. Photo: Courtesy of Renewable Energy Systems Ltd.