The Eolo de Nicaragua project consists of 22 Gamesa G90 2-megawatt wind turbine generators, as well as the facilities and equipment required to connect the generators to a high-voltage substation. It is estimated that Eolo will be able to generate 170 gigawatt hours of electricity per year, without requiring any fossil fuel supply. Electricity produced by the wind farm will be purchased by local distribution companies Distribuidora de Electricidad del Norte, S.A. (Disnorte) and Distribuidora de Electricidad del Sur, S.A. (Dissur).
Nicaragua’s electrification rate is among the lowest in Central America and reliance on thermal (oil-fired) generating plants has made the long-term marginal electricity costs the highest in the region.
“The Eolo wind farm fits very well with MIGA’s efforts to support complex infrastructure investments that will underpin economic growth”, commented Jason Zhengrong Lu, MIGA’s senior underwriter who worked on the transaction. “Through our guarantees, we are helping one of the poorest countries in the hemisphere increase the availability of electricity cleanly and cheaply”, noted Izumi Kobayashi, MIGA’s Executive Vice-President, adding “we are also pleased that MIGA is insuring a wind power project for the first time, as we are committed to supporting renewable energy projects”.
“Private investment in the Nicaraguan energy sector can help boost its economic and environmental sustainability”
This article was first published by Syndigate.info in the Power Engineering website.
