The project will reduce carbon dioxide emissions, enabling it to register for carbon credits under the Kyoto Protocol’s Clean Development Mechanism (CDM).
On February 5, 2009 100 GWh/year from the Monte Redondo wind farm was sold at an auction organized by the Compania General de Electricidad (CGE) S.A. The contract runs for 14 years and starts in January 2010. The wind farm is yet another step towards the diversification of GDF SUEZ’s energy portfolio in Chile, helping to stabilize energy prices by reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
In Brazil, GDF SUEZ is currently also constructing two hydro plants, Estreito (1,087 MW) and Jirau (3,300MW) and has recently inaugurated Sao Salvador (241 MW). The company’s investments for alternative energy in the country also include the Areia Branca small hydro-electric plant (19.8 MW) (start-up expected
May 2009), and the Beberibe wind farm (25.6 MW) which has been operational since September 2008. These projects are part of the Incentive Programs for Alternative Electric Energy Sources (Proinfa) in Brazil. Since September 2008, Tractebel Energia is also building a new biomass plant, the 33 MW Andrade project, fuelled by sugar cane biomass. Of the total energy produced by Tractebel Energia, 85% now comes from renewable energy sources such as hydro-electricity, wind and biomass.
Renewable energy represents more than 20% of the GDF Suez’s production
capacity which it plans to double by 2015.
