Wind Energy

Iberdrola Renovables will begin to install wind turbines in its 80 MW wind farm project in Mihai Viteazul

Next year the company will install 40 wind turbines at the site, using Spanish firm Gamesa’s technology, according to Adrian Goicea, country manager, Iberdrola Renovables. “The wind energy project will be completed in three to four years,” he added.

The Spanish company has stated it plans to develop up to 50 wind power parks in Romania with an installed power capacity which could total 1,500 MW.

In the long-term this would require an investment in the billions of Euro. Obstacles remain, but two events suggest that the nation of 22 million, long powered by coal and large-scale hydroelectric plants, is finally ready to start fulfilling its widely recognised clean energy potential.

Czech Republic’s CEZ is building a one billion Euro 600 MW wind farm in Constanta county, which is already part-operational. In addition OMV Petrom (with 45 MW) and Portugal’s EDP Renovaveis (with 228 MW) also have wind farms under construction in the region – where Spain’s Iberdrola Renewables also has grand plans.

June saw the grid connection of the first wind turbines at the Fantanele wind farm, which together with its adjacent sister wind farm at Cogealac will create a 600 MW wind power facility — Europe’s biggest onshore wind energy complex.

The Romanian Wind Energy Association (AREE) is confident the wind power sector is poised for a period of strong growth, with 650 MW possible by the end of this year and the potential for 5 GW of installed capacity by 2020.

www.thediplomat.ro