Murmansk takes lead in wind power development
Plans for the construction of two windmill parks on the Kola Peninsula have been approved by regional authorities in Murmansk. One of the parks will be located in Pechenga, along the border to Norway.
The development of the Pechenga park will give a boost to the industrial and social development of the region, a representative of the Sankt Petersburg-based company “Russkii Veter” says to Bellona.org.
The company wants to develop a 100 MWh park on the western side of the Pechenga Bay. A total of 50 windmills are planned set up in the area.
In a meeting last week, a Murmansk commission on industrial development approved two companies’ plans for the development of windmill parks along the Barents Sea, Bellona.org reports. One the projects is in Pechenga, the municipality located along the border to Norway.
The company representative of “Russkii Veter” is supported by regional Minister of Industry, Transport and Energy, Sergey Leus, who maintains that the wind park will be needed. At the same time he says that the project also requires the construction of new grid capacities, roads and more.
It is the Sankt Petersburg-based “Russkii Veter” a newly formed enterprise, which intends to build the wind park in Pechenga. Another company, the Dutch Windlife Energy, intends to build a 200 MWh park near Teriberka, northwest of the city of Murmansk.
The Murmansk Commission on industrial development did approve the company’s declaration of intent in its meeting last week. However, members of the commission at the same time say that the park will require the development of new industrial activities in the region. In addition, they maintained that Murmansk Oblast already is a surplus producer of energy, and that the grid lines will need to be upgraded.
It might still be a long way to go before the windmill parks become reality. Still, the support from regional authorities show a strong will to diversify energy capacities. With the wind power parks, Murmansk can take the lead in Russia on alternative energy generation.
Read also:
Windmill park for Pechenga 30 October 2008
Murmansk Oblast focuses on renewable energy 21 October 2008
Murmansk windmill farm comes one step closer 16 October 2008
Windmill park for Shtokman village 25 September
