Ecuador to Build Its First Wind Farm

Quito- Posted by: Prensa Latina Posted date: 17 August 2011 In: Ecology and Environment, South America

Ecuador’s first wind farm to generate electricity will begin to be built in September in the southern province of Loja, according to the Electricity Corporation of Ecuador (Celec). The project, worth 34 million US$, will provide a total of 15 megawatts to the national power system, and should be operational in 2012.

The works will be executed by the Chinese company Global Goldwind, which won the contract through a tender in which four Chinese companies participated.

This wind farm, which will be the first to work 8,858 feet (2,700 m) above sea level, comprises 11 wind turbines between 50 and 80 feet high (15 to 24 m), and a substation and a three-mile (4.8 km) transmission line to carry the power to the substation in the city of Loja and then to the National Interconnected System.

The government of President Rafael Correa is carrying out numerous projects aimed at developing the power generation using renewable energy sources in order to substantially change, as soon as possible, the national energy matrix, which is based on oil.