Enel Green Power awarded with a 99 MW wind power in Chile with 33 wind turbines

In Chile, Enel Green Power operates the hydroelectric plants of Pullinque and Pilmaiquén, with a portfolio which aggregates geothermal energy, wind power and solar power projects throughout the country.

In the recent tender held by the Ministry of National Assets, Enel Green Power has been granted an area of public land in the Taltal district located in the Antofagasta region. The wind farm construction in Taltal is part of the government policy aimed at promoting the country’s energy mix diversification, accomplished by the Ministries of Energy and National Assets

Under an agreement between the Ministry of National Assets and the Ministry of Energy to endorse energy diversification in Chile, Enel Green Power, through its subsidiary Enel Chile, took part in the tender to attain the concession of public lands for the development of a wind farm. Enel Green Power has obtained a concession of approximately 2,600 hectares located in the Taltal district, in the region of Antofagasta, 1,550 km north of Santiago.

The new wind farm that Enel Green Power will build provided that both feasibility studies and the environmental impact assessment turn out to be positive, contemplates 33 wind turbines with a total installed capacity of 99 MW. Taltal’s wind farm will generate 329 million kWh per year of clean energy thus avoiding the emission into the atmosphere of 217,000 tons of CO2 per year. This energy production will meet the consumption needs of some 170,000 Chilean households.

Cristian Herrera, General Manager of Enel Green Power in Chile, was pleased with this announcement and commented “The Taltal wind concession comes to ratify the growth of the company in the country through a balanced mix of renewable energy technologies. It’s a new step ahead to accomplish the growing consumption needs of the country through the contribution of our diversified portfolio which includes geothermal and solar initiatives”.

The Taltal wind farm, once up and running, will deliver his energy to the SIC –Central Grid- transmission system through the Paposo substation, about 60 km away from the plant

Enel Green Power is the Enel Group company dedicated to developing and managing energy generation from renewable sources at an international level, with a presence in Europe and the American continent. It is among the industry leaders worldwide thanks to its approximately 22 billion KWh generated from a well-balanced energy mix inclusive of water, sun, wind and geothermal sources. This is enough to meet the energy needs of about 8 million households and avoid the emission of more than 16 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The company’s installed capacity exceeds 7.000 MW, produced by more than 640 plants in operation around the world, with a generation mix that includes wind power, solar energy, hydro, geothermal energy and biomass.

By José Santamarta, www.enelgreenpower.com