Czech utility company CEZ is working on what will be the largest wind farm in Europe. The new 600-megawatt wind farm, to be built in Romania, is expected to begin partial operations in 2009. The farm should be fully operational by the end of 2010. Construction will begin in September. The current largest onshore wind farm in Europe is located in Whitlee, Scotland.

CEZ announced the purchase this week of two wind farm projects (Fantanele and Cogealac) from Continental Wind Partners. The combination of the two will create a farm that is roughly double the size of the Whitlee farm. CEZ's total investment in the project is expected to reach 1.1 billion euros. Continental Wind Partners' primary business is financing wind farms — the company began in Romania and Poland in 2006 and has since expanded throughout Europe.

"The project has all necessary licenses and permissions including guaranteed connection to the grid and the hardware for the first stage has already been fully contracted," said Martin Roman, the CEO of CEZ.  "Investment into renewables is one of the strategic measures we are taking to respond to the adopted energy-climatic package of the EU."

CEZ is one of the largest utilities in Europe. It serves almost seven million customers throughout 11 countries in central and southeastern Europe.

Image — CEZ