Venezuela’s energy authorities and the Association of Wind Energy proposes to install in the country for the next 15 years, 10 thousand megawatts of wind power generation.

The president of the Association of Wind Energy in Venezuela, Oswaldo Ravelo said that currently are providing technical lectures at various universities in the country to promote the use of this wind energy source.

‘We have two projects that we have submitted to the Ministry of Science and Technology, one is to make the study of all the coast to identify areas where wind can be put to future generation, and the other is to identify how much wind energy potential we have in the country, "said Ravelo.

The president of Wind Energy Association in the country adding that those 10 thousand megawatts would represent 10% of the projected demand for 2025, considering a growth of 6%.

On the issue of wind energy, the Minister of People’s Power for Electricity, Ali Rodriguez Araque, said that in Paraguana (Falcon) and La Guajira (Zulia state) studies indicate the possibility of placing up to 10 megawatts of wind power.

‘We are preparing for the installation of wind power generation increased in Venezuela, "he said.

"These are advantages that Venezuela should take, it is not enough that we have oil, and increasingly it is not used for electricity generation and transport ‘ he said.

Also, the National Executive works in the incorporation of solar energy through photovoltaic cells in isolated areas of the country.

‘In addition, we are studying a very ambitious project to replace all water heaters on electricity and gas, by solar, because it is absurd that in a tropical country we are consuming as much electricity and gas, "stated Rodriguez Araque.

All these plans are part of the Revolutionary Government policy to seek independence generation the country has of the Guri hydroelectric dam, which currently supplies about 70% of the population.

The towers of the 24 wind turbines of the first wind farm in Venezuela will be installed in June and July this year, said Stella Lugo, governor of Falcon state, where the wind farm is built.

The wind farm Paraguaná will have 100 megawatts in its final phase. The power plant is part of Venezuela policy to diversify its energy sources for electricity production, which now depends on more than 70 percent of hydropower.

Galp plans to build four wind farms in La Guajira, Isla de Coche, Isla Margarita and Chacopata, amounting to a total power of 72 MW and almost €90 million.

Almost 4.000 kilometers of coast to the north of Venezuela are more than enough to establish wind farms, able to produce one of the cleanest types of energy.

Gamesa breaks into the Venezuelan market with the installation of 100 MW in what will be the country’s first wind farm. The company will supply 76 wind turbine generators to PDVSA amounting to almost €116 million through its subsidiary MADE. Gamesa positions itself as one of the main wind turbine suppliers in the Latin American market by closing this deal.

These wind turbines will be destined to what will become the first Venezuelan wind energy facility, located in the Paraguaná peninsula in the state of Falcón. Through the installation of the country’s first wind energy project, Gamesa will contribute to attaining the goal of generating clean energy in Venezuela.

This agreement, amounting to almost €116 million, includes the supply and overseeing the installation and start-up of the wind turbine generators, along with two years of operation and maintenance.

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By José Santamarta, worldwatch@nodo50.org