Pattern Energy brings online 115-MW wind farm in Chile

Jun 13, 2014 - US-based firm Pattern Energy Group Inc (NASDAQ:PEGI) said yesterday it had kicked off commercial operations at the 115-MW El Arrayan wind farm in Chile.

The wind power company owns a 31.5% stake in the park, while Chilean firm Antofagasta Minerals SA (AMSA) has a 30% interest. The third joint venture partner is AEI El Arrayan Chile SpA, a unit of AEI, with 38.5%.

The El Arrayan wind farm, built by a unit of Swedish construction group Skanska AB (STO:SKA B), is powered by 50 turbines of 2.3 MW each made by Germany’s Siemens (ETR:SIE). Its output will be enough to meet the demand of about 200,000 local homes per year and will help save over 300,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, the developer estimates. Pattern Energy will take care of the plant’s operations. Minera Los Pelambres, controlled by AMSA, will buy about 70% of the generated electricity through a long-term fixed-for-floating hedge. The remaining power will be sold on the Chilean spot market.

The 115-MW wind farm, touted as the largest of its kind in Chile and South America, is Pattern Energy’s first wind scheme outside North America. Together with the El Arrayan complex Pattern Energy now has eight operating wind farms and is building an additional 393 MW. The ones under construction are scheduled to be put on stream this year.

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