Energía Sierra Juárez wind project in Mexico commences operations

US based power generation company InterGen along with Mexican company IEnova have commenced commercial operations of Energía Sierra Juárez wind project in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico.

InterGen holds 50% of the stake in the $300m project, while IEnova owns remaining stake.

The company highlighted that the 155MW wind project is the first of its kind cross-border wind generation plant between Mexico and the US.

Turbines for the project have been set up across Baja California´s Sierra de Juarez mountain range, which claimed to be strongest wind resources on the west coast of North America.

It will feature 47 Vestas turbines of 3.3 MW each, for which the company was awarded a contract in May 2013.

InterGen said that it has entered into a 20-year power purchase agreement with San Diego Gas & Electric.

A new cross-border transmission line is also expected to interconnect to the existing SDG&E’s Southwest Powerlink transmission system in east of San Diego, and while it is planned to connect to the Mexican power grid in future.

InterGen president Neil H. Smith said: "The project is our first to generate power from wind, which will provide an important alternative source of renewable energy to southern California.

"Renewable energy is an expected area of growth for us in the future. We are also committed to expanding our business in Mexico. Our partnership with IEnova is one more successful example of InterGen’s ability to provide energy solutions to our varied customers around the world."