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Wind Power News: Portugal
These news and opinion items are gathered by National Wind Watch in its noncommercial educational mission 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. The original articles, links to which are provided, may have additional links and photos and other media that were not included here.
Zero challenges three wind farm projects in protected areas
The issue concerns the Arcos de Valdevez Wind Farm, situated near Portugal’s only national park, Peneda-Gerês, along with the Silves Wind Farm and the updates to the Tendais Wind Farm, according to a statement issued by the association. The Arcos de Valdevez Wind Farm—comprising 32 wind turbines and potentially featuring a High Voltage Line (LMAT) crossing sensitive areas—is cited by the association as a significant example of lacking integrated vision and disregard for classified natural values. A public petition opposing . . . Complete story »
How Spain’s success in renewable energy may have left it vulnerable
The Iberian Peninsula’s widespread blackout raises questions about the resilience of the electric power infrastructure in the two countries – and to an extent, the rest of Europe. Spain’s power company, Red Eléctrica, proudly declared on April 16 that enough renewable energy had been generated to cover demand. “The ecological transition is moving forward,” it said. Less than two weeks later, Spain and Portugal experienced an 18-hour blackout that disrupted daily life, shutting down businesses and schools and crippling trains and . . . Complete story »
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 »
