Wind Energy

Enel central in wind energy and photovoltaic solar power surge

While the Enel Group keeps growing in solar photovoltaic and wind power in Italy, Spain and Portugal, the "Assessment of Required Share for a Stable EU Electricity Supply until 2050" report predicts that in 2050 the electricity produced from photovoltaic solar energy and wind turbines could cover 40 percent of Europe’s electricity growth.

The study was conducted by Ecorys Nederland on behalf of the EU Commission Energy Direction, and was compiled together with the Energy Research Centre of the Netherlands (ECN) and the EU Energy DG itself.

The other non-discontinuous renewable sources, like hydro, geothermal energy and biomass, could provide a significant input to Europe’s electricity demand. Indeed, their estimated contribution accounts for 80 percent of the total input from renewables by 2050, which would bring about a 95% greenhouse gas emission reduction compared with 1990 levels.

In November, Enel Green Power (EGP) was awarded two of the thirteen lots offered for tender by Difesa Servizi S.p.A. in Italy for the allocation of military land for the installation of photovoltaic solar energy systems.

One lot is located at Teulada, in the province of Cagliari, and another one at Serre Persano, in the province of Salerno, where Enel built its first solar power plant, for long the largest in Europe and now completely renovated. The lots, which will allow to install PV systems for about 60 MW, cover a total of approximately 190 hectares and benefit from excellent solar radiation. The new plants will add up to the 67 MW installed by EGP in Italy and worldwide in 2010 and 2011.

In early December, Enel Green Power has also put into service two new wind farm plants in Spain. The 38 MW Los Llanos wind farm, near Burgos, in the region of Castilla y León, and the 24 MW Granujales wind farm, close to Cadiz, in Andalucía. With an overall installed capacity amounting to 62 MW, these two facilities will produce over 151 GWh per year, meeting the energy needs of more than 55,700 households and saving 112,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Moreover, Enel Green Power added 4 MW to the wind farm that is already online at Alvaiázere, in Portugal, raising the plant’s total capacity to 18 MW. Hence, the wind farm’s estimated production will be 50.2 GWh a year, meeting the demand of 18,900 households and saving 37,100 tonnes of CO2 each year.

www.enelgreenpower.com