Wind Power News: Portugal
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They are the products of the organizations or individuals noted.
High tension rears its ugly head again
One of the eastern Algarve’s most idyllic rural retreats, a mountainous range eight kilometres north of Stª Catarina de Fonte do Bispo (Tavira) which is affectionately known to locals as ‘the cloud factory’ and comprises a cluster of unspoilt villages, is under threat of being invaded by two large-scale energy projects that are causing residents to unite in uproar, and who are promising to go to all lengths at their disposal to ensure the projects do not follow the proposed . . .
Principle Power plans Portugal offshore windmill project
Principle Power, which makes windmills that are erected in deep bodies of water, said it’s signed a deal with Portuguese energy utility Energias de Portugal (EDP) to install a wind power project off the coast of Portugal.
Terms of the memorandum of agreement weren’t disclosed.
According to Seattle-based Principle Power, the project will use its WindFloat floating turbine foundations, which the company said can be located where water depth is greater than 50 meters (about 164 feet) and wind resources are more . . .
EDF Energies Nouvelles lance la plus grande centrale éolienne terrestre européenne
[EDF Energies Nouvelles launches largest European onshore wind energy facility in Portugal]
EDF Energies Nouvelles annonce le lancement au Portugal de la dernière tranche du parc éolien de Ventominho, la plus grande centrale éolienne terrestre européenne.
Avec une capacité totale de 240 MW connectée au réseau en un seul point, la plus grande centrale éolienne terrestre d’Europe, est désormais intégralement opérationnelle.
Situé au nord-ouest du Portugal, à la frontière espagnole, le projet Ventominho compte 120 éoliennes (240 MW) dont les dernières viennent d’entrer . . .
Portugal expands wind power
Portugal’s General Directorate for Energy and Geology said wind power will provide 15 percent of the nation’s electricity by 2010.
Currently, wind power represents about 4 percent of Portugal’s electricity, but there are plans in place to increase that in coming years, Publico reported.
Portugal had 1,427 wind-powered generators at the end of August, generating 2,672 megawatts at 164 wind farms.
In addition, between January and August 2008, licenses were given for 384 megawatts of wind power, and wind power . . .
Babcock & Brown Unloads Wind Energy
Global investment firm Babcock & Brown on Monday announced that it has sold off wind assets to Magnum Capital for $1.46 billion.
The portfolio includes 515 mega watts of operating windfarms in Portugal and an additional 156 mega watts of wind farms under construction. The sale, effective immediately, will go toward paying off debt.
“We are pleased to be announcing the sale of this portfolio,” Babcock & Brown’s Antonino Lo Bianco said in a statement.
Babcock & Brown in February announced plans . . .
B&B sells wind farm assets for $2.2b
Babcock & Brown Ltd (B&B) has sold wind farm assets held by B&B Wind Partners in Portugal for $2.23 billion and will use some of the proceeds to pay down debt.
The assets were sold to a consortium of investors led by Magnum Capital.
B&B said it would earn $285.82 million in net proceeds from the sale of its 50 per cent share of the portfolio.
This represents a price above book value and will be used to pay down project debt secured . . .
Windmills destroy our natural beauty
The largest wind farm in Europe is located in Soajo’s backyard in Alto Minho. Let me be clear that I support sensible efforts to reduce pollution and increase alternative and renewable energy. However, we should not go so far in our efforts to harness green energy that our beautiful region is scarred. Wind farms sound like great ideas from a political standpoint. However, there are adverse consequences not only for the wildlife in the region, but for tourism too. Our . . .
SSE to enters two JVs for wind farm development in Portugal
Scottish & Southern Energy’s renewable division, Airtricity, has entered into two joint ventures to further its wind farm development plans in Portugal, totaling 400 mega watts of potential capacity.
The first agreement, which could see construction beginning by the end of year, is with Riviera, a Portuguese real estate and property development company, under which the companies will jointly develop a number of wind farms totaling approximately 250 mega watts (MW).
Airtricity will hold a 60 percent share in the joint venture . . .
Wind farm plans
A wind farm with 21 turbines to be built in Aljezur, providing energy for around 148,000 houses, is currently under public consultation.
The renewable energy farm, which is estimated to produce 113.400 megawatts per year, is planned to be constructed in the Serra do Espinhaço do Cão in Aljezur Câmara.
An environmental study carried out on the Parque de Monte do Tolo, part of the serra where the farm is due to be constructed, is under public consultation at Aljezur Câmara until . . .
Staking all on a renewable future
What does the Iberian wolf think about renewable energy?
Not much, it seems.
Three packs of wolves range across the mountains above the Minho valley in northern Portugal, just beside zones marked out for the biggest wind farm in Europe.
The wolves had to be tracked by satellite to see what they got up to once the building work started. Not surprisingly, they were frightened off.
As the first wind turbines were finished and a measure of peace returned to some of the hilltops, . . .
