- Enel Green Powers installed capacity in Brazil will double thanks to these new projects.
Rome, September 3rd, 2010 - Enel Green Power, the Enel Group company dedicated to developing and operating renewable sources in Italy and around the world, was awarded 90 MW of capacity in the public tender held in Brazil to promote wind power. The company was awarded the contract based on three projects with very high wind potential and a capacity factor of around 50%, among the highest in the world. This means that the wind turbines will be able to generate power for over 4,000 hours equivalent per year, approximately twice the European average.
The contract was awarded via an auction through which only 528 MW out of around 7,000 MW authorized were awarded.
With an installed capacity of 30 MW each, Cristal, Primavera and Sao Judas - the names of these three EGP projects - will be able to generate over 390,000 MWh per year, equal to the consumption of around 245,000 Brazilian households and avoiding the emission of about 270,000 metric tons of CO2 into the atmosphere.
The wind farms will be constructed in the Brazilian state of Bahia and, due to their location in semi-arid areas, will enjoy incentives targeted at infrastructure development.
Through the tender, EGP also gained the right to sign a 20-year contract to sell the electricity generated by the three plants through Brazils Chamber of Electrical Energy Commercialization at a price indexed 100% to Brazilian inflation.
"This result is very important to us, given the excellent qualities of our projects in terms of productivity, cost competitiveness and return on investment, said Francesco Starace, President of Enel Green Power, We are further reinforcing our presence in Brazil - where we are already active in hydropower, expanding our activities also in wind power generation. Brazil is a large market with abundant renewable resources, and a demand for energy that reflects a continually developing economy.
The three wind farms are scheduled to begin operation in the second half of 2013. These new plants will allow Enel Green Power to double its installed capacity in Brazil and significantly increase its wind presence in Latin America.
About Enel Green Power
Enel Green Power is the Enel Group company dedicated to renewable energy with a presence in Europe, North America and Latin America. It is one of the global leaders in its industry with a total installed capacity of over 5,700 MW and more than 600 plants in operation in 15 countries. The company and its subsidiaries produced 21 billion kWh of energy from water, sun, wind, geothermal and biomass in 2009.