Vestas (www.vestas.com) has received an order for V120-2.2MW turbines with a capacity of 184MW from US-based Xcel Energy Inc — a national leader in wind energy — for the 200MW Blazing Star wind project in Minnesota.

The full project includes previously purchased 2MW Vestas PTC units and is part of Xcel Energy’s proposed ‘multi-state wind expansion’ to add 3,680MW of new wind generation across 12 projects in seven states.

This expansion will increase Xcel Energy’s wind power capacity to more than 10,000MW by the end of 2021.

Chris Clark, president of Xcel Energy (Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota), said: “These projects will help keep energy costs low while contributing to our vision of achieving 85% carbon-free energy by 2030 in the Upper Midwest.”

The V120-2.2MW is the latest extension of Vestas’s proven 2.0MW platform (there are currently 40GW of these turbines installed globally).

With a 19% larger swept area than the previous 2.0MW model, the V120-2.2MW can support wind projects in new low and medium wind-speed regions, harnessing previously uneconomical wind resources.

The order includes supply and commissioning of the turbines, as well as a 10-year service agreement. Turbine delivery will begin in the third quarter of 2019.