Enel Green Power, the global business line of the Enel Group, has broken ground on the Kolskaya wind project, located in the Russian region of Murmansk.
With 201 megawatts of installed capacity, the facility is the largest wind farm currently under construction beyond the Arctic Circle. The project, owned by Enel Russia, will involve a total investment of around €273 million ($301 million).
The Kolskaya wind farm is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2021 and will be able to generate around 750 gigawatt hours per year, avoiding the emission of around 600,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year. The wind facility will consist of 57 turbines covering a 257-hectare (635-acre) area.
“Through the opening of this second construction site in Russia, we are taking the next step in the strengthening of our renewable portfolio in this country,” said Antonio Cammisecra, head of Enel Green Power. “Looking ahead, we are committed to scouting for further renewable opportunities in Russia while continuing to build and develop our current projects, leveraging on our strong presence and expertise in the area to progressively build a truly low-carbon footprint in Russia.”
Enel Russia was awarded the 201-megawatt Kolskaya wind project in the 2017 Russian Government tender for the construction of 1.9 gigawatts of wind capacity in the country along with the 90-megawatt Azov wind project, which is currently under construction and due to be commissioned at the end of 2020.
In June, Enel Russia was awarded another wind project of the more than 71-megawatt Rodnikovsky wind farm, located in the Stavropol region, which is due to be commissioned in first half 2024. Enel Green Power is in charge of the development and construction of all the projects.
Enel Russia’s overall investment in the three facilities amounts to approximately €495 million ($546 million). This investment is in line with the Enel Group’s overall target to fully decarbonize its generation mix by 2050.
