GE Vernova's onshore wind business has secured an order from Pattern Energy to supply 2.4GW turbines for its SunZia Wind project in New Mexico, US.
The SunZia Wind project, with a total capacity of more than 3.5GW, is being developed by Pattern.
The wind project will be paired with SunZia Transmission, an 885km-long, 525kV HVDC line with a transmission capability of 3GW.
The wind project is located in the Torrance, Lincoln and San Miguel counties of New Mexico. The transmission line will be laid between the centre of the state and south-central Arizona.
Pattern Energy broke ground on the transmission line in September 2023. This was followed by the company securing a non-recourse financing deal in December.
The $11bn financing package includes an integrated construction loan, a letter of credit facility and innovative tax equity term loan facilities.
Construction and term loan facilities of $8.8bn were provided by a consortium of banks including BNP Paribas, Crédit Agricole Corporate and Investment Bank and MUFG Bank.
GE will supply 674 3.6-154 turbines. The order marks the largest single onshore wind turbine order in the company's history, both by number of turbines and power generation capacity.
The two companies have collaborated for more than 18 months on development and supply chain optimisation for enhanced site performance and to reduce unnecessary variations.
GE Vernova will make use of its tower production facilities in Belen in New Mexico, Pueblo in Colorado and Amarillo in Texas, and its nacelle factory in Pensacola, Florida.
GE Vernova has also provided Pattern Energy with consulting and financial services for the project.
GE Vernova CEO Scott Strazik stated: “We are pleased to support Pattern Energy on this monumental project that reinforces the key role wind power has in delivering renewable energy to meet the growing demand for power in the western US and in accelerating the energy transition.
“The project is a great example of how the policy certainty created by the Inflation Reduction Act is helping to drive significant investments in the US wind power market.”
