Contract worth 40 million Euros for four photovoltaic systems in Spain

Siemens Industry Solutions will be responsible for maintaining, servicing and operating four photovoltaic systems in Spain for Eolia Renovables, one of the leading independent European companies in wind power and photovoltaic solar electricity generation. Siemens has already supplied important electrical components for constructing these solar parks which boasts a total power of over 45,8 MW. The full service and maintenance contract totals approximately 40 million Euros and will span a period of 23/24 years.

Three kilometers from Beneixama in Spain (in the province of Alicante) is the location of one of the largest photovoltaic parks in the world. More than 100,000 solar modules, comprised in 200 individual systems each with an output of 100 kilowatts, supply solar energy for 12,000 households. The site measures 500,000 square meters and is operated by Eolia Renovables, headquartered in Madrid. Three further solar plants belonging to the company are situated in Mahora, Bonete and Alconchel. Siemens provided all the electrical equipment for the four solar parks – ranging from the cabling, Sinvert PV inverters and transformers to the WinCC visualization system.

Eolia Renovables has now also entrusted Siemens with the maintenance and technical running of the four photovoltaic systems, including the Sinvert 100 inverters. This covers all the electrical systems and continuous monitoring of the plants. The focus of the contract is directed on the services for the technical equipment and on achieving a high availability. The contract also includes procurement and stocking of spare parts throughout the entire term of the agreement as well as the access control. The duration of the full service contract is 23 years for the Beneixama, Mahora and Bonete sites, and 24 years for Alconchel. The services provided by Siemens for Eolia Renovables form part of the Simain portfolio for integrated plant maintenance.

“We have chosen Siemens as our partner because we were convinced by their high product solutions and service expertise within photovoltaic systems. A further important criterion for our decision was to have a reliable partner for the whole duration of the entire life cycle of the plant”, said Fermín Matesanz, at Eolia Renovables.

Photovoltaic systems form part of the Siemens environmental portfolio with which the company achieved sales of 19 billion Euros in fiscal 2008. This represents around one quarter of Siemens' total sales.

The Siemens Industry Sector (Erlangen, Germany) is the world's leading supplier of production, transportation, building and lighting technologies. With integrated automation technologies as well as comprehensive industry-specific solutions, Siemens increases the productivity, efficiency and flexibility of its customers in the fields of industry and infrastructure. The Sector consists of six Divisions: Building Technologies, Drive Technologies, Industry Automation, Industry Solutions, Mobility and Osram. With around 222,000 employees worldwide Siemens Industry posted in fiscal year 2008 a profit of EUR3.86 billion with revenues totaling EUR38 billion.

With the business activities of Siemens VAI Metals Technologies, (Linz, Austria), Siemens Water Technologies (Warrendale, Pa., U.S.A.), and Industrial Technologies, (Erlangen, Germany), the Siemens Industry Solutions Division (Erlangen, Germany) is one of the world's leading solution and service providers for industrial and infrastructure facilities. Using its own products, systems and process technologies, Industry Solutions develops and builds plants for end customers, commissions them and provides support during their entire life cycle. With around 31,000 employees worldwide Siemens Industry Solutions achieved an order intake of EUR 8.415 billon in fiscal year 2008.

Eolia Renovables (www.eolia.com) is one of the leading independent European companies in wind power and photovoltaic solar electricity generation. Its development strategy is based on integrating medium-sized renewable energy companies. Its founders include alternative asset management companies such as the N+1 Group, independent developers such as Preneal, and financial entities like Bankinter. In addition, its main investors include some of the largest Spanish institutional investors such as BBK, Kutxa, Fonditel, Banco de Sabadell and others.