|
OSLO, Norway, 2004-10-20 (Refocus Weekly) The largest windfarm in Norway has been opened, 15 months after construction started.
The Hitra facility in Sor-Trondelag county has 24 turbines and generates electricity for 20,000 people. It is Statkraft's second major windfarm development and will provide NOK 2 million in tax revenues to the local municipality, while providing four operational jobs at the site.
Hitra was built while the Smola windfarm was being expanded. When that work is completed next year, the two sites will generate a total of 600 GWh, almost equal to the Alta power station and sufficient for 30,000 homes.
“Hitra Windfarm provides welcome additional renewable energy to the power balance, and is a good example of how energy developments can be carried out in a way that is gentle to nature and in line with local interests,” says CEO Bard Mikkelsen. “Statkraft's ambition is now to play a key role in developing new energy and utilising the country's unique natural conditions. Norway is - together with the UK - the country in Europe that is best suited for wind power.”
Statkraft recently received its second licence from the Norwegian Water Resources & Energy Directorate (NVE) to build a windfarm in Finnmark county, which applies to the Skallhalsen windfarm in Vadso that will generate 230 GWh a year. It already has a licence for the Kjollefjord windfarm and has applied for a licence in Hordaland County, and is planning other facilities. It was denied a licence to build a 50 MW windfarm at Magerøya in Nordkapp.
“There are many suitable sites for the development of wind power in Norway, both along the coast from Lindesnes in the south to Kirkenes in the north and in the mountains,” the company reports. In 2002, there were 28 turbines with installed capacity of 17 MW that can generate 50 GWh a year, up from 30 GWh in 2001. NVE has licenced five wind projects and has received notification of another 15 projects with a potential annual production totalling 3.7 Twh.
“Technological developments and larger product series have resulted in a substantial reduction in the investment costs for wind power,” it adds. “During the past 15 years, the investment costs per square metre of propeller have been halved, and at the same time output has risen considerably.”
“Wind power is a renewable energy source that does not result in emissions of pollutants,” it adds. “However, windfarms can disturb plant and animal habitats. There may be a danger that birds will collide with the installations, and their construction may result in the loss or degradation of biotopes. The installations may reduce the aesthetic value of the landscape and come into conflict with the protection of the cultural heritage.”
“At present, we do not have sufficient experience to evaluate all the impacts of windfarms on Norwegian ecosystems,” it says. “Most studies have concluded that the risk of bird collisions is low. They do not indicate that the risk of collisions increases with the height of the installation or the diameter of the rotor.”
Norway wants to produce 3 TWh of wind power by 2010 and Statkraft's goal is to generate two-thirds of that amount from windfarms by 2010. The output would be sufficient for 100,000 homes.
Statkraft generates a total of 42 TWh each year, making it the third-largest power producer in the Nordic region and the second-largest producer of renewable energy in Europe.
Click here for more info...
Back to contents... |
