ContourGlobal becomes Peru’s largest wind operator

ContourGlobal, through its subsidiary Energía Eólica S.A., has inaugurated its Cupisnique and Talara Wind Farms, becoming the largest wind farm owner and operator in Peru.

With a combined investment of nearly US $250 million, the Cupisnique and the Talara Wind Farms are the first operational projects in the northern region of the country and were connected to the National Interconnected Electric System (SEIN) last month. Each of the projects benefits from a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement entered into under Peru’s Renewable Energy Resource Program.

Alessandra Marinheiro, Chief Executive Officer ContourGlobal Latam, said:

“With the inauguration of ContourGlobal’s Peruvian wind farms, the country is taking a big step towards realizing the benefit of integrating wind power into the nation’s electricity grid. Peru is blessed with abundant wind resources, which makes wind generated electricity significantly less expensive than many of the fossil fuel power plants in the country.”

These inaugurations celebrate the successful conclusion of the twenty-two month construction of Cupisnique and Talara, which began in October 2012.

ContourGlobal managed the construction of the sites, based on wind turbines built by Vestas. The 62 turbines are installed in two locations along Peru’s windy Pacific coast and are Peru’s largest wind farms as well as the largest wind farms in South America outside of Brazil.

Joseph C. Brandt, President & Chief Executive Officer of ContourGlobal, said:

“We would like to express our appreciation to COFIDE (Corporación Financiera de Desarollo—Peru’s national development bank), the Government of Peru and the communities of Pacasmayo and Talara for helping us to place Peru’s largest wind complex into operation today.

We have found Peru to be a very hospitable destination for new investment and look forward to growing with the country in the years to come.”

Cupisnique is located in the province of Capasmayo in La Libertad region about 1,095 km from Lima, the nation's capital. The Cupisnique wind farm will use 45 x 1.8 MW Vestas V-100 wind turbine generators. Talara is located in the province of Talara in the Piura region about 670 km from Lima. The Talara wind farm will use 17 x 1.8 MW Vestas V-100 wind turbine generators.