Windmaster Nordex

Fortum Corporation, Press release, 2011-05-11 08:15 CEST (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fortum and the Swedish Skellefteå Kraft will purchase 60 wind turbines from Nordex for the Blaiken onshore wind farm under construction in Northern Sweden. Fortum's share of the turbines to be ordered is 12. Blaiken Vind AB, a joint venture of Fortum and Skellefteå Kraft, will have a maximum of 100 wind turbines on its wind farm and a total capacity of 250 megawatts.  

The 2.5-megawatt wind turbines to be purchased from Nordex will cover a total of 150 megawatts of the wind farm's planned capacity. The turbines for Blaiken are designed to operate particularly cold conditions. They are equipped with a new kind of warming system that prevents ice from forming on the rotor blades and thus ensures the wind farm's production also during the winter season.  

The Blaiken wind farm will be constructed in phases; the intention is for construction to be complete in 2015. The construction of roads and other infrastructure in the plant area started this year. The next phase involves building the foundations for the wind turbines. Nordex starts to deliver the wind turbines in 2012.  

Blaiken will be one of the biggest onshore wind farms in Europe. Its average annual production of an estimated 700 gigawatt-hours is the equivalent to the annual electricity consumption of 150,000 households. The total project investment, when completed will be about EUR 400 million, of which Fortum's share is 40% and Skellefteå Kraft's 60%.  

The German Nordex is one of the world's leading wind turbine manufacturers with operations in nearly 20 countries.  

Fortum Power Division Communications

Additional information: Risto Andsten, Vice President, Renewable Energy, Fortum, tel. +358 (0)50 453 3988  

Fortum

Fortum's purpose is to create energy that improves life for present and future generations. We provide sustainable solutions that fulfil the needs for low emissions, resource efficiency and energy security, and deliver excellent value to our shareholders. Our activities cover the generation, distribution and sale of electricity and heat as well as related expert services.  

Fortum's operations focus on the Nordic countries, Russia and Baltic Rim area. In the future, the integrating European and fast-growing Asian energy markets provide additional growth opportunities. In 2010, Fortum's sales totalled EUR 6.3 billion and comparable operating profit was EUR 1.8 billion. We employ approximately 10,500 people. Fortum's shares are quoted on NASDAQ OMX Helsinki. Further information: www.fortum.com