Wind power in Portugal
Encyclopedia
In December 2010, there was 3,937 MW of wind power
nameplate capacity
installed in (Mainland, excluding Madeira and Azores) Portugal. The major wind turbine
manufacturers in the Portuguese market are Enercon
, Vestas
and Gamesa. In 2010, Portugal generated 9.024 TWh of wind energy, or 17% of its total production, putting it above Spain
and only behind Denmark
, as the second highest wind power mix contribution in the World.
The largest owners of wind farms (in December 2009) are Iberwind (19.8%), Enernova (EDP Renováveis
) (16.3%), Generg (13.1%) and EEVM (8.7%). The record for highest instantaneous weight of wind energy was achieved in 31 October 2010 02:15 AM, reaching 75% of total consumption. The highest daily contribution of wind energy was attained in the same day at 61%. The record of wind power generation utilization was achieved on October 8, 2010 at 15:15 with 3235 MW.
Most of the Portuguese wind capacity is located in the north-northeast distritos.
Viseu is the distrito with the largest installed capacity, followed by Castelo Branco, Viana do Castelo and Coimbra.
in the Viana do Castelo district became fully operational in November, 2008 when Portugal's Economy Minister Manuel Pinho inaugurated it. At the time of completion it was Europe's largest on-shore wind farm. The wind farm began generating electricity in 2007, with production increasing as more wind turbines came online, reflecting the modular nature of wind farm
s. The wind farm consists of 68 Enercon
E-82 2MW wind turbines and 52 Enercon E-70 E4 2MW turbines, totaling 136 MW and 104 MW, respectively. The wind farm will produce 530 GWh annually, avoiding 370,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Other major wind farms which are operating, or under construction, include: Arada-Montemuro Wind Farm
(112 MW), Gardunha Wind Farm (106 MW), Pinhal Interior Wind Farm (144 MW), Ventominho Wind Farm
(240 MW).
Other wind farms include: Pampilhosa Wind Farm which has a nameplate capacity
of 81 MW and uses Vestas V90 turbines; Caramulo Wind Farm with a capacity of 84 MW, using Enercon E-70 E4 turbines; and Caneeiros Wind Farm with a capacity of 78 MW, using Vestas V90 turbines.
, in the Viseu district, which will use Enercon E-82 turbines.
Wind power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as using wind turbines to make electricity, windmills for mechanical power, windpumps for water pumping or drainage, or sails to propel ships....
nameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity, also known as the rated capacity, nominal capacity, installed capacity or maximum effect, refers to the intended technical full–load sustained output of a facility such as a power plant, a chemical plant, fuel plant, metal refinery, mine, and many others.For dispatchable power,...
installed in (Mainland, excluding Madeira and Azores) Portugal. The major wind turbine
Wind turbine
A wind turbine is a device that converts kinetic energy from the wind into mechanical energy. If the mechanical energy is used to produce electricity, the device may be called a wind generator or wind charger. If the mechanical energy is used to drive machinery, such as for grinding grain or...
manufacturers in the Portuguese market are Enercon
Enercon
Enercon GmbH, based in Aurich, Germany, is the fourth-largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world and has been the market leader in Germany since the mid-nineties. Enercon has production facilities in Germany , Sweden, Brazil, India, Canada, Turkey and Portugal...
, Vestas
Vestas
Vestas Wind Systems A/S is a Danish manufacturer, seller, installer, and servicer of wind turbines. It is the largest in the world, but due to very rapid growth of its competitors, its market share decreased from 28% in 2007 to 12.5% in 2009...
and Gamesa. In 2010, Portugal generated 9.024 TWh of wind energy, or 17% of its total production, putting it above Spain
Wind power in Spain
Spain is the world's fourth biggest producer of wind power, after China, the United States and Germany, with an installed capacity of 19,959 megawatts at the end of 2010, a rise of 1,609 MW for the year...
and only behind Denmark
Wind power in Denmark
Wind power provided 18.9% of electricity production and 24.1% of generation capacity in Denmark in 2008, Denmark was a pioneer in developing commercial wind power during the 1970s, and today almost half of the wind turbines around the world are produced by Danish manufacturers such as Vestas and...
, as the second highest wind power mix contribution in the World.
The largest owners of wind farms (in December 2009) are Iberwind (19.8%), Enernova (EDP Renováveis
EDP Renováveis
EDP Renováveis is a leading renewable energy company headquartered in Madrid that designs, develops, manages and operates power plants that generate electricity using renewable energy sources....
) (16.3%), Generg (13.1%) and EEVM (8.7%). The record for highest instantaneous weight of wind energy was achieved in 31 October 2010 02:15 AM, reaching 75% of total consumption. The highest daily contribution of wind energy was attained in the same day at 61%. The record of wind power generation utilization was achieved on October 8, 2010 at 15:15 with 3235 MW.
Regional trends
| Installed windpower capacity (MW) | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Distrito/R.A. | 2008 | Jun2009 | 2009 | 2010 |
| 1 | Viseu | 635.3 | 645.3 | 651.3 | 691 |
| 2 | Coimbra | 302.8 | 423.8 | 449.8 | 548 |
| 3 | Castelo Branco | 386.5 | 426.5 | 430.5 | 495 |
| 4 | Vila Real | 156.7 | 224.7 | 270.7 | 438 |
| 5 | Viana do Castelo | 308.8 | 326.8 | 356 | 356 |
| 6 | Lisboa | 273.9 | 294.3 | 313.5 | 309 |
| 7 | Leiria | 172.9 | 223.4 | 252.3 | 233 |
| 8 | Guarda | 115.3 | 150.5 | 162.5 | 150 |
| 9 | Braga | 121.0 | 147.9 | 147.9 | 151 |
| 10 | Faro | 75.0 | 133.0 | 135.0 | 144 |
| 11 | Santarém | 103.9 | 103.9 | 103.9 | 157 |
| 12 | Porto Porto District The District of Porto , sometimes Oporto in English, is located on the north-west coast of Portugal. The district capital is the city of Porto, the second largest city in the country... |
73.7 | 73.7 | 80.0 | 105 |
| 13 | Bragança | 14.0 | 39.0 | 74.0 | 73 |
| 14 | Aveiro | 42.1 | 42.1 | 42.1 | 41 |
| 15 | Madeira Madeira Madeira is a Portuguese archipelago that lies between and , just under 400 km north of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in the north Atlantic Ocean and an outermost region of the European Union... |
8.7 | 26.6 | 38.3 | 38.3 |
| 16 | Beja | 10.0 | 26.0 | 26.0 | 27 |
| 17 | Setúbal | 18.7 | 18.7 | 18.7 | 19 |
| 18 | Açores | 11.6 | 11.6 | 11.6 | 11.6 |
| 19 | Évora | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 20 | Portalegre | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| Portugal total (MW) | 2831.7 | 3337.6 | 3535 | 3987 |
Most of the Portuguese wind capacity is located in the north-northeast distritos.
Viseu is the distrito with the largest installed capacity, followed by Castelo Branco, Viana do Castelo and Coimbra.
Major wind farms
The 240 MW Alto Minho Wind FarmAlto Minho Wind Farm
The Alto Minho Wind Farm in the Viana do Castelo district, of Portugal, became fully operational in November, 2008, when Portugal's Economy Minister Manuel Pinho inaugurated it. At the time of completion, it was Europe's largest on-shore wind farm...
in the Viana do Castelo district became fully operational in November, 2008 when Portugal's Economy Minister Manuel Pinho inaugurated it. At the time of completion it was Europe's largest on-shore wind farm. The wind farm began generating electricity in 2007, with production increasing as more wind turbines came online, reflecting the modular nature of wind farm
Wind farm
A wind farm is a group of wind turbines in the same location used to produce electric power. A large wind farm may consist of several hundred individual wind turbines, and cover an extended area of hundreds of square miles, but the land between the turbines may be used for agricultural or other...
s. The wind farm consists of 68 Enercon
Enercon
Enercon GmbH, based in Aurich, Germany, is the fourth-largest wind turbine manufacturer in the world and has been the market leader in Germany since the mid-nineties. Enercon has production facilities in Germany , Sweden, Brazil, India, Canada, Turkey and Portugal...
E-82 2MW wind turbines and 52 Enercon E-70 E4 2MW turbines, totaling 136 MW and 104 MW, respectively. The wind farm will produce 530 GWh annually, avoiding 370,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Other major wind farms which are operating, or under construction, include: Arada-Montemuro Wind Farm
Arada-Montemuro Wind Farm
The 112 megawatt Arada-Montemuro Wind Farm is in the Viseu district of Portugal. It uses Enercon E-82 wind turbines.In March 2007, there was 1,874 MW of wind power generating capacity installed in Portugal, with another 908 MW under construction....
(112 MW), Gardunha Wind Farm (106 MW), Pinhal Interior Wind Farm (144 MW), Ventominho Wind Farm
Ventominho Wind Farm
The Ventominho Wind Farm is located close to the Spanish border in north-western Portugal. It includes 120 wind turbines, each of 2 MW capacity, supplied by German manufacturer Enercon. With 240 MW in total capacity and a single point of connection to the grid, the onshore wind farm is now fully...
(240 MW).
Other wind farms include: Pampilhosa Wind Farm which has a nameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity
Nameplate capacity, also known as the rated capacity, nominal capacity, installed capacity or maximum effect, refers to the intended technical full–load sustained output of a facility such as a power plant, a chemical plant, fuel plant, metal refinery, mine, and many others.For dispatchable power,...
of 81 MW and uses Vestas V90 turbines; Caramulo Wind Farm with a capacity of 84 MW, using Enercon E-70 E4 turbines; and Caneeiros Wind Farm with a capacity of 78 MW, using Vestas V90 turbines.
Under construction
Major wind farms which are under construction include is the 112 MW Arada-Montemuro Wind FarmArada-Montemuro Wind Farm
The 112 megawatt Arada-Montemuro Wind Farm is in the Viseu district of Portugal. It uses Enercon E-82 wind turbines.In March 2007, there was 1,874 MW of wind power generating capacity installed in Portugal, with another 908 MW under construction....
, in the Viseu district, which will use Enercon E-82 turbines.
See also
- List of large wind farms
- Renewable energy in the European UnionRenewable energy in the European UnionThe countries of the European Union are currently the number two global leaders in the development and application of renewable energy. Promoting the use of renewable energy sources is important both to the reduction of the EU's dependence on foreign energy imports, and in meeting targets to combat...
- Renewable energy in PortugalRenewable energy in PortugalRenewable energy in Portugal was the source for 52% of the country's electricity generation in 2010 - an increase of 28% in 5 years.In 2001, the Portuguese government launched a new energy policy instrument – the E4 Programme , consisting of a set of multiple, diversified measures aimed at...
- Renewable energy commercializationRenewable energy commercializationRenewable energy commercialization involves the deployment of three generations of renewable energy technologies dating back more than 100 years. First-generation technologies, which are already mature and economically competitive, include biomass, hydroelectricity, geothermal power and heat...