The facility, capable of producing two units a week for Accionas AW3000 3MW machine, is part of an industrial plan the company hopes will recoup its status as an officially accredited supplier in Brazil. The plant will be operational by October 2012.
In April, Acciona was handed the deal by utility CPFL for the 120MW Atlântica wind farm, in Rio Grande do Sul, the country’s southern-most state.
Last week, an inspection by Brazil's National Development Bank (BNDES) found five manufacturers failed to source enough supplies locally to meet Brazil's protectionist wind regulation. It provisionally withdrew accreditaiton from Acciona, Vestas, Suzlon, Fuhrlander and Clipper “uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç.
Apart from its own hub facility, Acciona says blades will be made by a Brazilian supplier in Fortaleza and concrete towers will be made onsite by a local partner. The company spokesman, who withheld the suppliers' identity, says other smaller components will also be sourced locally, "all to meet BNDES requirement".
"In a second phase, and depending on demand, AW will build a nacelle assembly facility," he added.
Major market
Acciona, which signed a 120MW supply contract with developer CPFL Renováveis earlier this year, considers Brazil a major target market.
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