South America | Renewbl.com

Category: South America

Chile is looking for bids geothermal exploration projects

June 2nd, 2009 | Posted in Geothermal

Geothermal vents in Chile. (Image credit: Stefaan & Eric on Flickr)

The Chilean government has invited bids for geothermal exploration blocks, mostly in the north of the country. This is part of the country's push towards diversifying its energy porfolio in order to rely less on fossil fuel.

The geothermal potential in Chile has been determined to be significant, with estimates showing geothermal output could be as high as 3500 MW. Most of the geothermal blocks are in the north of the country, the home of many mines. It is estimated that investors will have to invest anywhere from USD 500,000 to USD 3 million per block for exploration.

The country has hydroelectric power installations, although they've underperformed in 2008 due to heavy droughts that hit the country. There is also wind energy potential, which the country plans to take advantage of as well by encouraging wind power projects.

Argentina planning a geothermal power plant, looking for international bids

May 30th, 2009 | Posted in Geothermal

Copahue volcano in Argentina. (Image credit: Birgit Junk on Flickr)

Copahue, otherwise known for a popular resort with thermal springs, may soon also become known for a geothermal power plant nearby. The area is about 370 km northwest of the Neuquen, the provincial capital, and the site for the new geothermal project, a mine, is another 10 km away, residing on an altitude of about 2000 meters.

Project specification and bid terms are available from May 28 for about USD 6700 from the province's office in Buenos Aires. All bids submitted will be opened on July 13 this year. The total investment is estimated at about USD 60 million.

Argentina has significant geothermal potential, mostly along the hude Andes mountain range, on the western border of the country.

Andritz Hydro receives big order for supply

May 26th, 2009 | Posted in Hydro

Andritz Hydro's bulb hydroturbine. (Image credit: Andritz Hydro)

Andritz Hydro Brasil (Brazilian subsidiary of the Austrian parent company) has received a major order to supply, supervise installation, and commission equipment for the Jirau hydroelectric power plant located on the Madeira River in northern Brazil. The order value is about EUR 170 million.

Andritz Hydro will deliver 8 bulb hydroturbines each with 76.55 MW of output. These are the most powerful bulb turbines in the world. The company will also deliver generators and 28 voltage regulators for the generators. Commissioning of the first machine is planned for mid 2012.

Bulb hydroturbines are especially designed to be most effective in low head, high flow conditions, such as is the case with the Madeira River. The turbine's high efficiency allows for economically viable operation even in large flow rate variations.

This order, as well as another "smaller" order about a week ago (EUR 44 million) for the Batalha hydropower station, further strengthen the company's position as the major supplier for Brazilian hydropower projects.

Alstom Hydro gets two hydo refurbishment contracts in Venezuela and Sri Lanka

May 12th, 2009 | Posted in Hydro

Simón Bolívar – Guri hydropower plant. (Image credit: mission.net)

The first contract is for the world's third largest hydropower plant, the Simón Bolívar – Guri plant, located in South-East Venezuela, on the Caroni river. The power plant, operated by Venezuelan public utility company EDELCA, will get five rehabilitated generators, part of a plan to extend the power plants lifespan by another thirty years. The contract is worth EUR 31 million.

The five generators to be refurbished each have 630 MW installed power capacity, totalling in 3.15 GW total capacity. The refurbishment includes work on stators, rotors, and the supply of auxilliaries. This is just the powerhouse number 2 capacity. The power plant has a grand total of 8.85 GW installed capacity. Currently, only a part of this power is used, and the plan is to gradually bring this up to 90% by 2012.

Venezuela has a growing electricity demand, which should be answered in the next decade with a new 1000 MW installed each year. Hydropower is a significant part of the country's power scheme, representing 63% of all installed power generation capacity.

The second contract is for the purpose of partial rehabilitation of Sri Lanka's Laxapana hydropower complex, worth EUR 43 million. The complex has five power plants, of which Alstom will refurbish two – Wimalasurendra and New Laxapana. Commissioning is scheduled for 2013. The first power plant operates two 26 MW Francis hydroturbines and the second one two 52 MW Pelton turbines. Both plants will be equipped with new governing and control systems as well as with new brushless excitors. The Pelton turbines' output will be increased to 57 MW each, by installing new hooped runners.

Alstom has already installed 60% of Sri Lanka's hydropower plants. Hydropower accounts for about 50% of the country's total installed power generation capacity. Sri Lanka has previously secured a USD 155 million loan to improve its renewable energy development, so this rehabilitation of existing hydropower installations may be a part of it.

Enel and SowiTec join forces to develop 850 MW of wind power in Chile

May 8th, 2009 | Posted in Wind

Enel Green Power's subsidiary Enel Latin America Limitada (Chile) and SowiTec Energia Renovables de Chile Ltda (affiliated with SowiTec International GmbH) have signed an agreement to jointly develop numerous wind power projects in Chile totalling in 850 MW of capacity.

The agreement grants Enel exclusive access to several wind power projects developed by SowiTec, and also the right to acquire these projects once they get full authorization. The projects' preliminary capacity is between 60 and 150 MW, located in the northern electrical system (SING) and the central electrical system (SIC) of Chile. These areas present good wind potential and are very interesting for wind power development.

Chile has significant wind energy potential, so the country presents a great investment opportunity in the years to come. Enel is already present in Chile, ever since 2001, operating two hydropower plants with 90 MW of total capacity, but also has several geothermal concessions which are under exploration.

This is not the first recent announcement regarding wind power investments in Chile, other companies like Mainstream Renewable Power have invested in Chile.

Mainstream Renewable Power makes a billion dollar investment in Chile

March 30th, 2009 | Posted in Wind

mainstreampower

Chile's a great opportunity for wind power development. Mainstream Renewable Power, the leading Irish renewable energy company, is going to invest a billion dollars (US) into Chile's wind farm development, as stated by Eddie O’Connor, company CEO and co-founder. The investment is going to be segmented over the next five years, and is part of an alliance with Chile's Andes Energy. The project should generate more than 400 MW of electricity for more than 300,000 households.

Mainstream Renewable Energy general manager in Chile, Jose Ignacio Escobar, stated that the billion dollar investment is just the beginning. He said that options are open towards installing much more capacity, as much as it is determined possible. The first wind farm will be built in Laguna Verde, near Valparaiso, and is expected to go online as early as 2010. The last stage of the environmental study is the installment of 16 2.3 MW turbines, engough to power 19,000 households. Several areas have been identified to have "very good wind conditions" across Chile.

According to O’Connor, Chile has natural resources to develop about 44 GW of wind energy, and about 37 GW of solar energy, which could easily make Chile an exporter of clean energies.