| Wind Watch is a registered educational charity, founded in 2005. |
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.
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 »
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 . . . Complete story »
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 . . . Complete story »
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 . . . Complete story »
Galp's Ventinveste consortium, govt to sign wind power contract tomorrow
Galp Energia SGPS’ Ventinveste consortium is expected to sign tomorrow the contract with the Portuguese government to produce 480 megawatts of wind power, said a source close to the process. Economy minister Manuel Pinho and Galp’s CEO Manuel Ferreira de Oliveira are expected to be present at the signing in Aveiro, the source added. The Ventinveste consortium was awarded a total of 480 MW of capacity in the second phase of the Portuguese government’s recent wind tender. Ventinveste’s main members are . . . Complete story »
EDF EN to build two wind farms in Portugal in 500 mln eur investment
EDF Energies Nouvelles said it has arranged 500 mln eur in project financing in order to build two wind farms in Portugal. The investment involves a development at Alto Minho costing 325 mln eur and with a planned ouput of 240 MW, and another at Arada costing 175 mln eur and with a output of 112 MW. These two wind farms are due to enter service in 2008 and 2009 respectively. The Alto Minho project will be the largest wind farm in . . . Complete story »
Industrial Wind Turbines, Infrasound and Vibro-Acoustic Disease (VAD)
Excessive exposure to infrasound and low frequency noise (ILFN, defined as all acoustical phenomena occurring at or below the frequency bands of 500 Hz) can cause vibro-acoustic disease (VAD). [1] Research into VAD has been ongoing since 1980, conducted by a multidisciplinary team of scientists led by pathologist Nuno Castelo Branco, MD. In March 2007, for the first time, the Portuguese National Center for Occupational Diseases gave 100% professional disability to a 40-year-old flight attendant who had been diagnosed with . . . Complete story »
Airtricity the major power behind £800m wind farm
Airtricity, the renewable energy company, has entered into an £800m joint venture to develop 400-600 megawatts of onshore wind farm projects in Portugal. The Irish company, led by Eddie O’Connor, is taking a 90pc stake in the partnership with local company Enerbaca-Energias Renovaveis. It is understood that the turbines alone will cost around £600m, with labour and land access rights making up most of the rest. While the company declined to give a breakdown of the way the project will . . . Complete story »
Portugal's EDP to buy U.S. Horizon Wind Energy
Energias de Portugal (EDP) said it has agreed to buy U.S. wind-park company Horizon Wind Energy from Goldman Sachs to enter the U.S. market and strengthen its position in renewable energy. EDP did not give a value for the deal, but said the equity of Horizon totaled about $2.15 billion and it has debt of around $180 million. The acquisition would be adjusted for investments, which are estimated at $600 million, EDP said. EDP said the acquisition would be funded . . . Complete story »
