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Wind Power News: Portugal
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational effort to help keep readers informed about developments related to industrial wind energy. They do not necessarily reflect the opinions of National Wind Watch. They are the products of and owned by the organizations or individuals noted and are shared here according to “fair use” and “fair dealing” provisions of copyright law.
Aljezur wind farm fire shines further light on ‘security failings’
Wind farms and their ‘huge security failings’ are back in the public eye in the Algarve this week after a turbine caught fire in Espinhaço de Cão, outside Aljezur, on Saturday, sending ‘incandescent material’ falling to the ground over a radius of 80m. Fire chief Mário Costa has admitted that if this incident had happened in the summer, his station would have had a “much more complicated forest fire” on its hands. As it was, firefighters were able to establish . . . Complete story »
Turbine fire near Aljezur raises safety issues
A turbine at a wind farm in the western Algarve caught fire on Saturday, showering the countryside with red hot material. The wind turbine at Espinhaço de Cão, in the Aljezur area, is said to be well past its useful life and local fire chiefs have complained of the security of these machines and the threat they cause to the surrounding countryside. Thankfully, the ground was sodden due to recent rains but has this incident occurred in the dry months, . . . Complete story »
Pá de torre eólica incendeia-se na Pampilhosa da Serra
Um incêndio numa das pás de uma torre eólica, em Portela de Unhais, Pampilhosa da Serra, acabou por obrigar à intervenção dos bombeiros durante a tarde desta quinta-feira. O alerta foi dado às 12h47 por um popular, apurou o CM junto dos Bombeiros Voluntários da Pampilhosa da Serra. A pá em chamas acabou por cair, incendiando o mato à volta da torre eólica. As chamas acabariam por ser extintas pelos bombeiros, que estiveram no local com sete homens, apoiados por . . . Complete story »
Government approves new €24m wind farm project
The government has given the go-ahead for a €24-million wind farm project put forward by Lena Group subsidiary, Eneólica, in the Serra D’Aire mountain range, some 100 kilometres northeast of Lisbon. The group announced the new wind farm will have an installed capacity of 20 megawatts (MW) and is the third to be authorised by the current government as part of licenses granted in 2008 and 2009. It brings the installed capacity of all three wind farms to 68 Megawatts . . . Complete story »
Renewable producers face repaying €140m
Renewables producers will have to repay any financial support received in addition to the feed-in tariff to the national electricity system, according to a decree published by the industry ministry. The principle of recouping the additional payments, which the government has estimated at around €140 million, was included in the 2017 budget, approved by Portugal’s parliament in December 2016. The measure aims to minimise annual electricity price rises agreed by the previous government with international creditors in order to eliminate . . . Complete story »
Wind turbine workers suspected of causing Algarve fires
Employees from the Cachopo wind turbine construction company have been formally charged with starting a fire that destroyed more than 26,000 hectares of scrubland in the Algarve last month. The case, which is being investigated by the PJ police was subject to forensic testing after the fire that consumed large parts of Tavira and São Brás de Alportel municipalities between 18 and 22 July. A police source told Lusa News Agency that the initial focus of the blaze followed a . . . Complete story »
Government deals new blow to wind
The Portuguese government has dealt the wind sector another blow by announcing cuts in tariffs for existing wind farms totalling EUR100-200 million up to 2020. Growth in capacity has already practically ground to a halt since January following a moratorium on feed-in tariffs (FITs) for new projects. Wind and other renewable-energy producers will be offered “some kind of non-financial incentives” to join a voluntary scheme to lower FITs, a Portuguese economy ministry source told Windpower Monthly. The initiative is part . . . Complete story »
Portugal extends wind tariff cuts to existing projects
Following January’s suspension of feed-in tariffs for new wind power projects, the Portuguese economy minister Álvaro Santos has announced tariff cuts for existing wind farms of between €100 and 200 million. Sources in the economy ministry told WPM that wind power producers will be encouraged to sign up voluntarily to a new, lower rate of feed-in tariffs in return for unspecified, non-financial incentives. The measure is part of wider cuts in financial support affecting all electricity producers, which, the government . . . Complete story »
EDP Renováveis sees 68% profit fall
Portugal’s EDP Renováveis (EDPR) recorded a net profit fall of 68% for the first nine months of 2010, partly due to costs relating to newly commissioned capacity. In a statement to market regulator CMVM on November 3, EDPR said gross operating profit was up 28% to €473.1 million, the respective margin reached 71%, operative costs increased 49% to €189 million, while capex dropped 25% to €1.120 million. Over the past 12 months, EDPR installed 1.3GW of capacity (+27%) and aims . . . Complete story »
Portugal set to cut feed-in tariffs
The Portuguese government has announced that it will review the existing feed-in tariff mechanism following calls that the subsidies are excessive and contribute to the increase of electricity prices to final consumers. The tariff review is anticipated in Portugal’s National Energy Strategy 2020, published in June. It will consider the contribution of new technologies in the production of renewable energy, as well as the costs associated with their development. The support mechanism is voluntary and is managed by the Directorate . . . Complete story »
