The hidroeolic plant of El Hierro
Since 2005 on the Canary Island of El Hierro is been developing a project to make it the unique self-sufficient island in the world with 100% renewable energy.
El Hierro is a World Biosphere Reserve since 2001, emerging from the waters of the Atlantic fast approaching the 1,500 meters of altitude, which gives rise to a unique landscape of steep slopes permanently windswept. It has an area of 278 square kilometers and a population of 10,668 inhabitants.
The project, with a projected cost of 54,299,538 euros, is promoted by Gorona Wind El Hierro, SA, owned by the Cabildo Insular (60%), Endesa(30%) and the Instituto Tecnológico de Canarias (10%). This investment has provided support reflected in the State Budget amounting to 35 million euros, to be transferred to the IDEA as registered for granting subsidies to Gorona Wind El Hierro, SA.
The project started on 2005 and was expected to be finish on 2011. The reality is that the project is not yet finish but nowadays is close to the end.
The system will consist of two water tanks, one with lower capacity for 225,000 cubic meters and a tank top, taking advantage of a natural caldera, with a capacity of 500,000 cubic meters, a 10 MW wind farm, a 10 MW hydropower plant with a net water jump of 682 meters, a pumping station, and a built-existing diesel engines which would be operational in exceptional emergency cases in which there is neither water nor wind enough to meet demand.
In this video we can see and scheme and an explication of the system (spanish):
One of the most important phases of this project was the creation of the wind farm, it was so difficult taking into account the inaccessibility by roads to the best places for the location of the 5 eolic generators. In this phase the arrival of the different generator components was a very important milestone.
Actually the project is close to finish. The main works has been finished and it is expected thar during this year the project will be finish.
Environmental profits:
This project will prevent the annual consumption of 6,000 tons of diesel, equivalent to 40,000 barrels of oil imported and would have to reach by boat to the island, which saves more than 1.8 million per year.
Also, will prevent the emission into the atmosphere of 18,700 tons per year of CO2, the main cause of the greenhouse effect. That is equivalent to the CO2 that could set a forest of 10,000 to 12,000 hectares, an area equivalent to 20,000 football fields. Also prevent the emission into the atmosphere of 100 tons of sulfur dioxide and 400 tons of oxides of nitrogen, equivalent to the emissions of a bus line that runs 600 million kilometers.
Projects like this are key to achieve sustainable development. I hope this project serves as an example to show you how can renewable energy supply all the energy that we need in our lives taking care at the same time of the environment.
Comentarios desactivados en The hidroeolic plant of El Hierro /
17 Ene 2012
por
Ruben Pardo Hernangomez
MERME /
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