Wind Energy

Wind power in Mexico: Chiapas first wind farm

With a total of 30 megawatts, a wind farm in Chiapas will serve to supply the 38 municipalities with the highest demand for electricity as well as state institutions responsible for state government in Tuxtla Gutierrez.

Electricity generated by this wind farm, which will begin in the first half of 2012, will be used for street lighting, water pumping and the needs of state government buildings, said Rodriguez-Galan, a partner at Woodhouse, Lorente and Ludlow, representing the wind power developer whose name can not be revealed.

"This wind energy project has not been replicated before in the country and in fact it opens up a new niche for all renewable energies: solar power, wind energy, hydro … and therefore to all developers" he said.

Previously, since state governments could not guarantee payment to contractors beyond the six-year administration, the projects failed.

However, the law creating Project Delivery Services (PPS) and a model contract that fits for the energy sector, it is possible to guarantee payment to the developers who will leave the state government’s current expenditure, added the interviewee. The wind farm will operate for the next 20 years and will be operated by the same company that financed, designed and built.

By José Santamarta, www.evwind.com