A record 2017 for the development of renewables in North America. According to the latest AWEA report, Enel Green Power is the leading operator for new wind capacity and speed of growth in the United States and Canada, and is a partner of choice for commercial and industrial companies.
A year with the wind in our favor. That’s the summary of Enel Green Power’s 2017 in North America that adding a company record breaking 1.2 GW of new capacity, more than any other company in the U.S., increasing its operating capacity to more than 4.2 GW. According to Bloomberg New Energy Finance (BNEF), EGP is leading the way in total new renewable energy capacity added last year, mostly from wind.
This record is confirmed by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA). In its recent U.S Wind Industry Annual Market Report 2017, EGP is indicated as the fastest-growing wind operator in the North American green market. And the good news doesn’t end there.
“Enel Green Power is in the top 10 of wind energy producers and is the only new entry on AWEA’s “Top 10” List for Wind in 2017.”
3 GW in 3 Years
The AWEA report shows our commitment to the growth of renewables in the Americas and around the world.
“North America is an important opportunity for the growth of renewables, as we can see from the record number recorded last year. We want to maintain this momentum, taking advantage of our solid pipeline, exploring new financial partnerships and relying on our best engineering and construction expertise.”
In 2017, EGP began operations at two new wind farms in Oklahoma – Thunder Ranch and Red Dirt – becoming the largest wind operator in the state, with more than 1,700 MW of managed capacity across 10 wind farms. The company also completed construction of the 300 MW Rock Creek Wind Farm in Missouri, the largest wind farm in the state.
Enel Green Power forecasts it will add about 1 GW a year in new capacity, in the United States and in Canada, for the next three years.
“In 2018, we’ll continue on this path: we currently have about 850 MW under construction, thanks to three new wind farms and one solar plant.”
EGP as “Partner of Choice”
With commercial & industrial consumers that are increasingly informed and aware of environmental issues, it’s becoming clear that business choices cannot be separated from responsibility towards the environment and the community. With this awareness, more and more companies are seeing renewable energy as a stimulus for their sustainability goals and, consequently, their economic growth.
This is shown by another record: in 2017, Power Purchase Agreements - PPAs have been signed, mostly in the United States, for a total of 2.8 GW of capacity. Enel Green Power is in the front lines of this energy revolution, currently holding a greater number of contracts with commercial and industrial clients than any other company in the United States.
“We continue to invest to bring renewable energy to new markets throughout North America. While more and more companies are following our example and demonstrating a shared commitment to sustainability, we are working on our ability to innovate sustainably, supporting our partners’ strategic development. We are happy to continue on this path in the years to come.”
Enel Green Power’s long-term contracts are an example of how companies can use renewable energy to reduce costs and operate more efficiently.
The proposed solutions are simple and tailored to the needs of every single customer. With this approach, Enel Green Power has secured more than 1 GW of PPAs in the United Statessince 2016, becoming the partner of choice from a B2B perspective.
Community at the Heart of the Business
Our growth is based on the values of respect and support for the growth of the local communities we come in contact with. All new projects follow our models of the Sustainable Worksite and Creating Shared Value, with initiatives that range from the management of construction site waste to programs for the health and education of local communities.
To give one example without leaving the American soil: in Oklahoma, thanks to acollaboration with Oklahoma Panhandle State University (OPSU), we’ve set up a program that has dedicated 150,000-dollar to support to help students specializing in the field of wind energy or in education.