Enel, through its US subsidiary for renewables Enel Green Power North America, Inc., has started construction of the Diamond Vista wind farm, which will have an installed capacity of approximately 300 MW and will be located in Marion and Dickinson counties, Kansas. Once completed, Diamond Vista will further strengthen Enel's position as the state's largest wind operator with approximately 1.400 MW of wind capacity in operation.
"The start of construction of Diamond Vista, which follows Enel Green Power's record growth in the US in 2017, sends a strong message about our ability to remain committed to strengthening the company's leadership in renewables” he commented Antonio Cammisecra, head of Enel Green Power, Enel's global division for renewable energy. “This project confirms Enel as a privileged partner of corporate customers who, like us, are committed to promoting a sustainable energy future. We are proud to support their goals in renewables with an efficient and cost-effective energy supply.”
The planned investment for the construction of Diamond Vista is about 400 million dollars and is part of the investments outlined in the current strategic plan of the Group. The plant is financed by Group resources. The plant is expected to enter service by the end of 2018 and, once operational, it will be able to generate approximately 1.300 GWh per year.
As Enel explains: “The power and renewable energy credits from Diamond Vista's 100 MW will be sold to global manufacturing company Kohler Co. under a long-term power supply agreement (PPA). Wind Energy Will Cover 100% of Annual Energy Needed to Power Kohler's Operations in the United States and Canada, Including 85 Manufacturing Facilities, Offices and Warehouses, and Reduce Kohler's Greenhouse Gas Emissions by More than 25% globally. The project is associated with two other long-term PPAs that will sell the power and renewable credits generated by another 100 MW section and an 84 MW section, respectively, to City Utilities of Springfield and Tri-County Electric Cooperative of Oklahoma”.
The plant is owned by Enel Green Power Diamond Vista Wind Project, LLC, a subsidiary of EGPNA. EGPNA purchased the project from Tradewind Energy, a Kansas-based company that has long been its strategic partner.
In Kansas, Enel operates five other wind farms, Smoky Hills I & II, Caney River, Buffalo Dunes and Cimarron Bend, the company's largest wind farm, with a capacity of 400 MW.
