Wind Project

The e7, in partnership with the Ecuadorian authorities, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Foundation (UNF), is actively planning the installation of wind turbines on San Cristobal Island in the Galapagos Archipelago.

Current plans for the $6 million project include construction of a wind park that will generate approximately 1,800 kilowatts of electricity, displacing more than 50 percent of the electricity presently being produced by diesel-powered generators. Delivery of equipment to San Cristobal Island is expected to begin in 2004, with electricity production beginning in 2005.

“This Galapagos wind project is a perfect example of what can be accomplished by combining the expertise and initiative of the energy leaders involved in the e7,” said E. Linn Draper Jr., e7 chairman and AEP chairman, president and chief executive officer. “The wind farm will provide the residents of San Cristobal with affordable electricity from a renewable source while reducing the risks of oil spills associated with the transportation and delivery of fuel to the island. It also will reduce greenhouse gas and other emissions associated with the burning of fossil fuels.

“Most importantly, the wind farm will be built and operated in a way to protect the many unique animals and plants on San Cristobal Island.”

Details

The Organization e7

The e7, founded in 1992, is an association of leading electric and energy companies from G7 nations. Members include AEP (U.S.), Electricité de France (France), Enel (Italy), Hydro-Quebec (Canada), Kansai Electric Power (Japan), Ontario Power Generation (Canada), RWE (Germany), Scottish Power (United Kingdom) and Tokyo Electric Power Generation (Japan).

Source of capital

The UNF is a major contributor to this project, having pledged to provide an additional amount of approximately $1 million for work on San Cristobal and the other islands.

Location

Initially, e7 planned to locate wind turbines on San Joaquin Mountain, the point of highest elevation on San Cristobal Island. However, further investigation on San Joaquin by e7 and the National Park Service identified colonies of an endangered species of bird and a rare species of plant life. It was determined that locating the turbines at that site would be too dangerous for them.

The National Park Service has determined that it is safer to place wind turbines on either Nino or San Thomas mountains. Measurement of wind resources on Nino Mountain is under way, and if results are favorable, wind turbines could be located there or on San Thomas Mountain.

Later it is decided that the Wind Park shall be installed on the ridge line of Cerro El Niño and will be composed of a number of wind generators with a total rated power up to 2.7 MW. The energy produced in each generator shall be collected by means of an underground cable system and conducted to a 13.8 kV substation to be installed in the same area as the Wind Park. The equipment to be installed shall require the construction of concrete foundations, drainage works, fences, signals and an access road to link the existing road with the facilities area.

Technology

Battery: An advance type of battery with sodium sulfur technology was considered for use with the project. It has the advantage of being environmentally superior to the lead acid batteries that have traditionally been used on the island.

Type of system: the generation of electricity shall be achieved by means of a hybrid wind-diesel system, in such a way that the contribution of the renewable wind component be as high as possible, provided it’s technically and economically feasible. When completed, this system – encompassing wind turbines, diesel generators and batteries – will be computerized so that the batteries will automatically supply much of the power when there is insufficient wind.

Transmission Line: form the substation at the wind park, a 13.8 kV, 13 km length transmission line shall be installed, ending at the existing step-up substation at the diesel generating power plant in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, owned by Elecgalapagos S.A. This transmission line shall use the same right of way as the existing line located in this route and owned by Elecgalapagos S.A.

Complementary equipment: in a piece of land adjacent to the Elecgalapagos diesel generating power plant, in Puerto Baquerizo Moreno, some complementary equipment shall be installed. These are required for the proper operation of the generating system.

Diesel generators: existing diesel generators owned by Elecgalapagos S.A. complete the hybrid generating system. These units shall be subject to a maintenance overhaul and a refurbish process.

Impact

Replacing diesel generated electricity with wind-powered electricity on San Cristobal Island will reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by approximately 3500 tons per year.

Sources:

1. e7 fund / Elecgalapagos S.A. – San Cristobal Wind Project – Public Audience – TOR for EIA November, 2003 http://galapagos.solarquest.com/PublicAudience/Audience.pdf

2. e7 Network of Expertise for the Global Environment April 2003 http://www.aep.com/environmental/renewables/e7/pdf/galapagos.pdf

3. AEP leads e7 program to install wind turbines in Galapagos

by Ron Swenson, Oil Crisis News from Around the World

http://www.ecotopia.com/news/article.asp?id=4146

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