Exus Management Partners has won the contract to lead the repowering of the 240 MW Big Sky Wind Farm in Illinois. Earlier this year the project was acquired by Vitol from a BlackRock-managed fund. Exus will now be a part of Vitol’s $250 million plan to upgrade the project, increasing Big Sky’s annual energy output by 60 per cent by the end of 2022. Under the scheme, highly efficient Vestas wind turbines will be installed using the existing foundations and towers.
Exus will provide asset management services for the project and handle the permitting for its repowering, allowing Vitol to optimize returns in its pursuit to adopt more green power. The proposed plans could offset about 620,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. Further, Exus will incorporate a variety of environmental and community activities, including support for regional wetland and prairie reserves, and sponsorship of local cultural events.
With a large number of wind projects experiencing losses in efficiency, repowering turbines have proved to be a viable solution. With approximately 40GW of US wind capacity now over 10 years old, including Big Sky Wind Farm, it is becoming increasingly cost-effective for owners of older wind farms to replace turbines with new, more advanced models.
Exus Management Partners is an independent investment and asset management firm focused on the renewable energy sector. The firm works on behalf of an increasing variety of investors to source investment opportunities, acquire assets and undertake full technical and commercial management of renewable energy portfolios worldwide.
