First offshore wind plant on track
Poland may see its first offshore wind farm by the end of next year, if things go smoothly for Danish concern World Wide Wind. Polish authorities have approved the company's plans to build a 100 MW offshore wind farm in the Baltic Sea four kilometres north of Gdansk, says Jens Peter Andersen, managing director of Wiatropol International, World Wide Wind's Polish subsidiary. Initial plans call for the use of 2 MW machines, but Andersen says technology has not yet been decided. With most environmental investigations complete, the company is carrying out geologic seabed studies. Water depths range from ten to 20 metres and winds average 7-8 m/s. The final electricity sale price is not yet determined, Andersen adds, and this is expected to fall into place following autumn's parliamentary elections. Meanwhile in Spain, the concern's Spanish subsidiary, Wind Iberica España SA, has secured financing for DKK 2.7 billion (EUR 363 million) for 110, 2 MW turbines to be installed in 12 small projects in Tarifa, Andalusia. NEG Micon, Spanish Gamesa and Vestas will supply the units. The deal was arranged with Global Renewable Energy Partners, a Spanish financier owned by NEG Micon. World Wide Wind has links with Jysk Vindkraft, an established Danish wind plant developer.