Aluar Aluminio has reached an agreement with Danish sustainable energy firm Vestas Wind Systems A/S to supply wind power to Aluar’s Argentine aluminum smelter in Puerto Madryn, in central-eastern Argentina.
It should be noted that the aluminum smelter to which Vestas will supply energy is the largest aluminum smelter in Argentina. In addition, this agreement will help Alumar comply with the Argentine government’s mandate that large electricity users obtain a portion of their energy needs from renewable sources.
Andrés Gismondi, Senior Sales Director of Vestas LATAM Cono Sur, emphasizes that the agreement will benefit both parties, adding that “this order materializes the third expansion of the El Llano wind farm complex, which will soon have a total of 246 MW of sustainable energy from Vestas turbines to power Aluar’s aluminum smelting facilities in Puerto Madryn. This underscores how Vestas solutions can help energy-intensive industries accelerate their energy transition by powering their operations with sustainable, cost-effective energy.”
Thus, Vestas will supply power to Aluar from its Llano IV Wind Farm, which has a nominal capacity of 81 MW. Both parties also agreed to a 20-year Active Output Management 5000 service agreement, which will optimize energy production in addition to long-term business case certainty.
The El Llano wind farm complex is currently under construction. Vestas says wind turbines are expected to be delivered by the end of the year, with commissioning scheduled for the second half of 2023.
