Wind Energy

AFC has invested ?16 million in wind energy in Cape Verde

It also made a significant equity investment in Cabeolica SA, the company set up to build, own and operate the wind farm project. According to a statement by Mr. Richard Uku, Senior Vice President & Head, Corporate Communication, AFC, the public-private partnership with the Government of Cape Verde entails the development, construction, ownership and operation of about 30 wind turbines on four islands of the archipelago.

These wind turbines will have an installed capacity of approximately 28 megawatts. He noted that Cape Verde has outstanding wind resources, but the country relies heavily on expensive imported fossil fuel for power generation.

He said, “The wind power project will reduce that reliance substantially. Cape Verde is targeting 25 percent of national utility power generation to be provided by renewable sources by 2011, and 50 percent by 2020.

“The project is one of the larger wind power projects to be developed in Africa to date, and is one of the most prominent of its kind in the African renewable sector,” says Andrew Alli, AFC President and Chief Executive Officer.

“When the project is completed, it will increase the national utility’s total installed generation capacity from 66 to 94 megawatts.

“The total contribution of renewable power in the country will also rise to over 25 percent. The first plant on the island of Santiago is expected to be tested and commissioned by May 2011 with all four plants scheduled to become operational by the fourth quarter of 2011.

“The project has been developed by InfraCo as the lead developer, in partnership with Empresa de Electricidade e Agua (Electra SARL), Cape Verde’s national electricity and water utility, and the Government of Cape Verde as project sponsors. “Other equity investors in the project include the Finnish Fund for International Cooperation (Finn Fund).”

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