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Renewable energy group Asja Ambiente Italia expects to complete work in July on its second Sicilian wind farm, part of a portfolio of more than 400 MW of projects it is developing in the country. The 6.8 MW plant is located in Buseto Palizzolo, near Trapani and uses Vestas V52 850 kW turbines. Asja, which diversified into wind energy three years ago from its core biogas business, currently has one 9.35 MW wind plant operating. The plant, at a site in Marsala in Sicily, has been up and running since early 2005, uses the same Vestas turbine. Asja's growth has meant continued business for the Danish turbine supplier. It is using the 850 kW model, which is made exclusively at Vestas Italian factory in Taranto, for three other Sicilian wind plants under construction. These projects -- at the site of Alia Sclafani near Palermo and the Guarine and Fumosa sites near Trapani -- are scheduled to be completed by year-end and will add another 40 MW to Asja's total. While Sicily has been key to Asja's wind plans, projects are also being developed in the Italian regions of Calabria, Basilicata and Apulia. Guy Teuwissen, who heads up Asja's wind energy business, says there are also plans to use larger turbines produced by Vestas, noting that Asja intends to buy the Vestas V90 2 MW model in the future.