Wind power in Brazil: Elecnor wins new wind energy plant

The wind farm allocated to Elecnor involves the construction and operation of a new wind farm, which will go by the name Dos Indios 2, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul. The new wind farm will be incorporated within Elecnor’s wind complex in Osorio, which became operational in 2006 and is considered the largest of its kind in Latin America. The total investment for this new wind farm –equipped with 14 wind turbines–, will amount to 104 million reais, roughly around 45.3 million euros.

The Dos Indios 2 wind park will capitalize on the transformation infrastructures and on the network connection already in place at the Osorio complex to offer extremely competitive prices, a decisive factor given the current state of Brazil’s wind market. The estimated date for connection to the network is July 2014.

Elecnor has consolidated its position within the realm of renewable energy, with a prominent foothold in wind (over 1,000 developed MW), thermal solar (three plants currently under construction in Spain) and photovoltaic solar energy. The development of this new Brazilian wind farm is part of the investment efforts put in place by Elecnor within its 2011-2013 Strategic Plan: 2,800 million euros, of which 700 are directly attributable to the company through capital contributions in projects which will be financed under a "project finance" model.

Elecnor has been granted financing for the amount of 445 million Brazilian reais (roughly 198 million euros at the current listed value) from the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES, Banco Nacional de Desenvolvimento Econômico e Social) to develop its subsidiary Enerfín’s new wind power projects in Brazil. The financing has a 16-year term.

This agreement with BNDES covers the latest three awards Elecnor has been granted in Brazil, 150 MW altogether. Specifically, said awards constitute the Las Leiloes wind farms (96 MW in 2009 and another 46 MW in 2010) and the Palmares wind farm, with an additional 8 MW.

Of these 150 MW located in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, 30 MW are already in operation, while the rest are scheduled to become operational sometime this year or next. By combining the new MW with those previously developed, Elecnor’s total power in Brazil climbs to 300 MW, thus staking its place among the country’s industry leaders.

Elecnor has consolidated its position within the realm of renewable energy, with a prominent foothold in wind energy (over 1,000 developed MW), concentrated solar thermal power (three Concentrating Solar Power plants currently under construction in Spain) and photovoltaic solar energy. The financing provided to the Brazilian wind farms is part of the investment efforts put in place by Elecnor within its 2011-2013 Strategic Plan: 2,800 million euros, of which 700 are directly attributable to the company through capital contributions in projects which will be financed under a "project finance" model.

By José Santamarta, www.evwind.com