GE lands USD 30 mln contract for new wind park in Romania

General Electric will supply seven wind turbines for Energia Verde Ventuno's Cerna Wind Park in Romania's Tulcea region, GE announced. The deal is worth some USD 30 million and includes equipment, the seven turbines with 17.5-megawatt total capacity and service contracts. GE also signed a 10-year, full service agreement to support the operation of the Cerna wind farm.The wind project is expected to generate enough clean energy to power approximately 7,000 Romanian households when it becomes functional later this year. It is is co-financed by the European Union through the Sectoral Operational Programme for the Increase of the Economic Competitiveness.

"Romania has huge potential for wind energy development," said Mario Costariol, director of Energia Verde Ventuno, a company set up in Romania to develop the project. "The wind energy sector will be able to develop jobs and help boost the economy, especially in the poorer rural areas of the country."

The Cerna project is another one in GE's portfolio in Romania, after having supplied wind turbines for the 600-MW Fantanele/Cogealac wind park, Europe's largest onshore wind project, which is now in full operation. GE technology is also powering a number of other wind farms in Romania, including Mireasa 2, Silistea 2 and Galbiori, according to the company.

Energia Verde Ventuno is controlled by Italian Movipower and Romanian Energia Verde.