The contract includes supply, installation and commissioning of the turbines, as well as a five-year service agreement. Delivery is scheduled to start in the first half of 2011 and the project is expected to be completed by the end of 2011.

The order has been placed by Edison, Italy’s second largest electric utility, with operations within procurement, production and distribution of electric power and hydrocarbons. Currently, the Group’s generating capacity has reached 12,300 MW. Edison has traditionally been active in the area of renewable energy sources, which account for about 14 per cent of its total installed capacity.

“We are happy to announce that Vestas has closed a new deal with Edison in Italy. The new project of San Giorgio la Molara is yet another proof of Edison’s commitment to clean and sustainable energy, and we sure intend to meet their expectations in terms of supplying the best possible wind power solutions,” says Juan Araluce y Martínez de Azagra, President of Vestas Mediterranean.

Rainer Karan, Managing Director of Vestas Italia, states: “It is with great pleasure we announce this new order. Edison is one of the main players in the energy sector and we are very proud of the commitment and trust they have shown in our proven technology for their new project. Edison and Vestas have been business partners for a long time and the mutual trust between us has made this order possible.”

With a total installed capacity of 54 MW and an estimated annual production of 148,000 MWh per year, the San Giorgio la Molara wind power plant will save the environment from more than 57,400 tons of CO2 emissions on an annual basis. Furthermore, it will generate enough electricity to power around 62,000 Italian households per year.