La iniciativa, a cargo de la empresa Norvind, implica una inversión de 140 millones de dólares, considera una potencia instalada de 46 MW y se espera que comience a operar a fines de este año.
Para ello es que arribaron al puerto de Coquimbo desde donde las 165 piezas están siendo trasladadas por tierra a Canela.
Los aerogeneradores fueron fabricados por la empresa Vestas, quien también se encargará de su montaje. Para esta ocasión, se utilizará la grúa más alta de Chile, cuya pluma alcanza los 109 metros de altura y que será provista también por la empresa Burger.
Para la construcción del Parque Eólico Totoral se han ocupado un promedio de más de 200 personas, las que han estado encargadas de las obras civiles, eléctricas, montaje mismo del aerogenerador y del movimiento de grúas. Además, la empresa está inmersa en un proyecto audiovisual, que incluirá imágenes periódicas desde el traslado hasta la construcción.
Cabe mencionar que con el inicio de las operaciones del Parque Eólico Totoral se reducirán las emisiones de CO2 en 65.000 toneladas al año, lo que equivale al retiro anual de 14.000 automóviles de las calles de una ciudad como Santiago.
NORVIND
Ubicado a 295 kilómetros al norte de Santiago, en la comuna de Canela, Norvind -empresa filial de SN Power- construirá el Parque Eólico Totoral, uno de los más grandes del país. El proyecto, que generará 45 MW y que implica una inversión de 140 millones de dólares, contempla la instalación de 23 aerogeneradores. Cada aerogenerador mide 120m de alto y tiene un peso aproximado de 225 toneladas.
Gracias a su tecnológico diseño son capaces de aprovechar la fuerza del viento imperante en la zona para generar energía eléctrica a través de turbinas ubicadas en su interior. La principal ventaja de la energía eólica es ser una fuente limpia y renovable, amigable con el ambiente. En la producción de electricidad, no genera ningún tipo de contaminación.
El inicio de la construcción del Parque Eólico Totoral fue en 2008 e implica la contratación de 300 personas privilegiándose la mano de obra local. Por su parte las operaciones del parque se iniciarían a partir del primer semestre de 2009.
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Norvind submits updated EIA for Totoral wind project
The Norvind subsidiary of Norway’s SN Power has submitted an updated EIA for its 46MW Total wind farm under development in north-central Chile’s region.
IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, signed an agreement to invest $61.5 million for the construction of the Totoral Wind Farm, advancing the development of renewable energy in Chile. The 46-megawatt wind project will support the country’s objectives of promoting
clean energy and diversifying its energy mix with a variety of renewable energy technologies.
The Totoral Wind Farm, situated 300 kilometers north of Santiago, will consist of 23 two-megawatt Vestas wind turbines. The project is expected to generate an average of 110 gigawatt hours per year of electricity for the Chilean central grid, relieving the significant supply constraints the country is experiencing.
By increasing renewable energy generation, the Totoral Wind Farm will help reduce environmental pollution, improving the quality of life in the country.
The project will be the country’s first-ever project-financed wind farm. IFC will invest $30.75 million for its own account and syndicate $30.75 million, to be funded by DnB NOR, the leading Norwegian financial services firm. The project developer is Norvind S.A., a special-purpose vehicle set up by the project sponsors, Statkraft Norfund Power Invest A.S, the Norwegian power developer, and its Chilean partner, Centinela.
Centinela, controlled by the Pavez family, is an investment company with interests in a wide range of industries.
The Totoral Wind Farm is expected to be one of the largest operating wind farms in Chile when it is completed in 2009. It will also be the first renewable energy project to be financed under Chile’s new "Non-Conventional Renewable Energy Law," which was passed in March 2008. IFC’s financing monetizes the expected carbon revenues under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism.
Bernie Sheahan, IFC Director for Infrastructure, said, “IFC expects the investment in Norvind to catalyze more project finance in non-conventional, renewable energy projects in Chile. We look forward to continuing our support for such sustainable energy projects in the country, including wind power, geothermal and small hydropower.”
Vestas to supply 23 wind turbines for SN Power’s Totoral wind farm
Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas has received an order for 23 units of its V90-2MW wind turbine for the Totoral project in Chile. The wind farm will be located in the region of Coquimbo, around 300km north of Santiago de Chile. The order has been placed by the Norwegian renewable energy developer SN Power.
According to the company, the contract includes supply, installation, commissioning and the VestasOnline Business supervisory control and data acquisition system.
SN Power’s objective is to invest in wind projects on a commercial basis in Asia and Latin America. SN Power is 50% owned by Statkraft, a renewable energy company with an annual wind-based electricity production capacity of more than 750GWh, claims the company.
By June 2008, Vestas had an accumulated installed wind capacity in Chile of 20MW, and the Totoral project is Vestas’s first order for Chile in 2008. The Chilean market holds great potential both in the short-term as well as the long-term, according to Vestas. Chile has a non-conventional renewable target of 10% of the energy consumption by 2024.
When completed, the Totoral project is expected to be the largest wind farm in Chile. Delivery of the wind turbines is scheduled to start in April 2009, and the project will be completed during the second quarter of 2009, said the company.
www.snpower.cl/espanol/index.php/sn-power-en-chile/norvind/
ifcln001.worldbank.org/ifcext/mediahub.nsf/Content/SelectedPR
