Denmark-based wind turbine installation and services company Global Wind Service (GWS) has been contracted by KranWind LLC to work on the Bearkat I wind farm in Texas.
The 197.6 MW project, consisting of 57 Vestas V126 3.45 MW turbines, is the first U.S. project for which GWS has been contracted to deliver the full installation scope. This includes installation; completion; tooling; health, safety, environment and quality; and project management. Notably, GWS also installed the wind turbines at the Block Island Wind Farm in Rhode Island, the U.S.’ first offshore wind farm.
The start-up of a local business unit in the U.S. during 2017 is part of GWS’ growth strategy, the company says. A local workforce of 60-plus technicians has been employed to support both Bearkat I and future projects. The new office will temporarily be located in Chicago while GWS looks for the right location. Michael Nielsen, co-founder of GWS, is acting interim area manager during the establishment.
“We are very excited about this opportunity. The U.S. wind market holds an enormous potential for development and growth, making it the natural next step for GWS,” says Nielsen.
The wind farm is owned by the Danish fund Copenhagen Infrastructure II K/S, and the craning work is being carried out by KranWind LLC, a joint venture between BMS of Denmark and Buckner of the U.S.
The Bearkat Wind Farm is on 30,000 acres of privately owned land in Glasscock County, Texas. It is being developed by Tri Global Energy using its proprietary business model, the Wind Force Plan, which gives local landowners and community investors the opportunity to partner with and have a substantial ownership in wind projects being leased on their land.
