Wind Power in Venezuela: Galp plans to build four wind farms

Engineer Helbrist Romero, the head of Projects of the Center for the Study of Renewable Energy Sources at Simón Bolívar University, commented that the university is taking part in wind power projects in island Margarita and western Falcón and Zulia states.

"There is much possibility of expanding the commissioning of wind farms, mostly on the country’s coast, due to the wind resource abundance, which, incidentally, has not been exploited. We can get much benefit from the wind we have on the coast," said the expert.

The engineer noted that wind energy is clean "because there is no consumption of natural resources. The wind will be always present and you will not deplete it, unlike coal and oil." However, he warned, "electric power generation based on the wind is expensive. However, as you realize that what you invest is for the sake of the environment, it is definitely worthwhile."

Gamesa breaks into the Venezuelan market with the installation of 100 MW in what will be the country’s first wind farm. The company will supply 76 wind turbine generators to PDVSA amounting to almost €116 million through its subsidiary MADE. Gamesa positions itself as one of the main wind turbine suppliers in the Latin American market by closing this deal

The Spanish company has reached an agreement with the country’s main energy group Petróleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA) for the supply of 76 AE61-1,320 kW 60 Hz wind turbine generators, amounting to a total power of 100 MW.

These wind turbines will be destined to what will become the first Venezuelan wind energy facility, located in the Paraguaná peninsula in the state of Falcón. Through the installation of the country’s first wind energy project, Gamesa will contribute to attaining the goal of generating clean energy in Venezuela.

This agreement, amounting to almost €116 million, includes the supply and overseeing the installation and start-up of the wind turbine generators, along with two years of operation and maintenance. The wind energy facility’s assembly work will commence in the last quarter of 2009.

From an environmental viewpoint, the wind turbine generators Gamesa will supply to the above-mentioned wind farm will contribute towards generating electricity supplies that respect the environment and avoid the emission of pollutants to the atmosphere. More specifically, the annual production of this facility’s 100 MW will replace 21,500 tons of petroleum equivalent (TPE) per year and avoid the emission into the atmosphere of 150,000 tons of CO2 a year.

www.galpenergia.com/Galp+Energia/English/The+Company/default.htm

www.impsa.com.ar/

www.gamesacorp.com

www.giaelec.org/Articulos/A2006-03.pdf

www.giaelec.org/Articulos/A2006-04.pdf