GDF grabs Nass & Wind Technologie

State-controlled Gaz de France announced today that it acquired Nass & Wind Technologie, a developer, builder and operator of onshore wind farms in France.

Nass & Wind Technologie is a subsidiary of the Lorient, France-based Nass & Wind Group. Gaz de France did not disclose financial terms of the deal.

Gaz de France said the acquisition will become part of a newly formed renewable energy unit, called GDF Futures Energies.

The company said, "With this new subsidiary, the group strengthens its commitment to the reduction of greenhouse gases, to the use of renewable sources of energy designed to combat global warming, and to security of power supply."

The new unit encompasses all of the company's wind power subsidiaries, including Maïa Eolis, Erelia, and Eoliennes de la Haute-Lys and soon Nass & Wind Technologie.

According to Gaz de France, Nass & Wind Technologie operates an installed capacity of 34 megawatts, and has received all the necessary construction permits for 150 MW in the short term and owns a project pipeline totaling approximately 1,500 MW.

Gaz de France said it already owns the largest wind farm assets in France, with installed capacity of almost 145 MW at the beginning of this year.

The company said GDF Futures Energies would base its growth principally on the development of wind power but would also contribute actively to other forms of renewable energy, such as solar.