Strong wind brought a good year to wind energy
EWPA's blog - etea March 26, 2012
According to Elering (Estonian Transmission System Operator) the wind turbines in Estonia produced last year 365 GWh of energy, which is 32% more than in 2010 when the turbines produced 276 GWh of electricity. Based on the evaluation of Estonian Wind Power Association, the main reason of growth is not the additional turbines but a better wind throughout the year. Despite the windless summer, the wind conditions in 2011 were better than in previous year.
According to the amount of connection proposals and contracts of Elering, it seems that there is a high interest in wind power and wind parks in Estonia. However, the reality reflects something else. During last year, only one wind farm with eight turbines (24 MW) in Aseriaru was finished. In addition to this, three additional turbines in Aulepa wind farm (9 MW) and also a 2.3 MW turbine that belongs to the Baltic Workboats factory located in Nasva, Saaremaa started their production. Also a year before only one wind farm was built (6.9 MW).
“Wind power is an environmentally friendly way to produce electricity and since it is new, it is natural that many people and organizations are interested in it. However, the amount of interested parties does not show the real development of the wind power,” said Tuuliki Kasonen, the General Manager of Estonian Wind Power Association. “In reality there are many restrictions and obstacles for building turbines and due to the fear or ignorance they seem to continue emerging. If we continue like this, it will take three-quarters of a century until all registrated proposals and contacts in Elering become in turbines,” added Kasonen.
At the end of 2011, in Estonia there were turbines with total capacity of 184 MW. At the moment three wind farms are in construction – Ojaküla wind farm with three turbines (6.9 MW) in Viru-Nigula, Paldiski wind farm with 18 turbines (45 MW) and Narva ash field power plant with 18 turbines (39 MW), which is in its final stage of installation.
The total of renewable energy production increased in the previous year from 862 GWh to 1,159 GWh with a growth of 34%. The wind power production formed 32% of the total renewable energy production. Last year, 14.4 million euros were paid to support wind farms which accounts 23% of the total amount of the renewable energy subsidy.