Cyprus unveils mammoth wind farm

NICOSIA, CYPRUS - Cyprus has moved closer to reaching the European Union's renewable energy target by 2020, with the birth of the first wind park on the island.

Expected to be operational by the summer of 2010, the 200 million euro (US$290.7 million), 82 megawatt (MW) wind farm will be the largest of its kind in the Mediterranean region.

"It is a very big project. Normally in Europe — especially in Greece and Spain — they consider 20 to 30 MW a huge project, so 82 MW is a massive project. It is the biggest in the region," Akis Ellinas, chairman of D.K. Wind Supply Ltd., told Reuters in an interview ahead of the ground-breaking ceremony.

Financing for the project was secured by British company Platina Partners, with the European Investment Bank providing 50 percent of the loan under a conventional project finance structure.

Once operational, the site — which is the first to benefit from the new 20 year fixed rate tariff recently approved by the Cyprus government and the EU Commission — will be home to 41 turbines, equivalent to producing 10 percent of the island's total energy generation capacity.

Split into two phases encompassing 140 MW in total, the 16 square km Orites wind farm, located on a mountain to the west of the island in the Paphos district, is the first private sector power project on the island.

"It was very difficult because we faced governmental people who had no idea what energy or wind farms meant. Some people thought it was a monster, others, something from space," said Ellinas, a businessman whose brainchild this wind park is.

Traditionally seen as a summer holiday destination, with scorching hot summers, the Mediterranean island has enough wind capacity to keep the towering white windmills turning to power 50,000 households, save 100,000 tons of carbon emissions and produce 120,000 Kilowatt hours of energy annually.

"Cyprus is not among the windiest areas in the world. I'd say we have something in the region of 6 meters per second and around 1,600 hours annually. But with new technology, like the Vestas 2MW V90 turbines which we are installing at the moment to the project, it helps," said Ellinas.

"That represents almost 3 percent of Cyprus's requirements toward EU regulations and targets," Ellinas said.

Related News

blood-nickel-canada-role

Blood Nickel and Canada's Role in Global Mining Sustainability

OTTAWA - The rise of electric vehicles (EVs) has sparked a surge in demand for essential battery components, particularly nickel, essential for their batteries. This demand has ignited concerns about the environmental and social impacts of nickel mining, particularly in regions where standards may not meet global sustainability benchmarks. This article explores the concept of "blood nickel," its implications for the environment and communities, and Canada's potential role in promoting sustainable mining practices.

The Global Nickel Boom

As the automotive industry shifts towards electric vehicles, nickel has emerged as a critical component for lithium-ion batteries due to its ability to…

READ MORE
solar power

Energy-insecure households in the U.S. pay 27% more for electricity than others

READ MORE

POWERLINES

Hydro wants B.C. residents to pay an extra $2 a month for electricity

READ MORE

ukraine-fights-to-keep-the-lights-on

Ukraine fights to keep the lights on as Russia hammers power plants

READ MORE

national grid

UK Emergency energy plan not going ahead

READ MORE