RWE Innogy invests in second wind farm in Italy

The Ururi wind farm is due to be commissioned by the end of this year. The total of 13 wind turbines of the two megawatt class will be supplied by the Danish plant vendor Vestas. The investment in the wind farm will be made jointly by RWE Innogy Italia (51%) and Fri-El Green Power S.p.A. (49%).

The wind farm will produce about 55 million kilowatthours of electricity per year, enough to supply over 18,000 residential households  with electricity. The wind farm will be built by the project company Andromeda Wind Srl. with support by Fri-El S.p.A., the joint venture of RWE Innogy and the Italian wind farm operator and developer Fri-El Green Power.

The Ururi wind farm is the second wind farm to be installed by RWE Innogy jointly with Fri-El Green Power in Italy this year. At present, RWE Innogy is erecting a 24.65 MW wind farm on Sardinia, approx. 35 km north of the city of Cagliari.

Paul Coffey, Chief Operating Officer of RWE Innogy, explained: "We intend to continue expanding our wind power activities in Italy because the high growth potential makes the Italian market very attractive for RWE Innogy. This does not only go for wind power, but also for our biomass activities in Italy."

4.8 GW of wind energy were installed in Italy at the end of 2009. The Italian government intends to grow the installed capacity to 8 GW by 2020. Power generation from renewable energies is supported by a system of "green certificates" in Italy. Electricity suppliers are obliged to offer a certain percentage on the basis of renewable energies. They can be released from this obligation by purchasing corresponding certificates.

RWE Innogy Italia has formed a joint venture for the development of wind energy and biomass projects in Italy with the Italian developer and operator of power plants based on renewable energies, Fri-El Green Power S.p.A. in Bolzano. RWE Innogy Italia and Fri-El Green Power each own 50 % of the development company Fri-El S.p.A. The joint venture aims to develop additional planned wind power and biomass projects to construction maturity.