Enel Green Power México (EGPM) has completed the installation of wind turbines and pre-operation tests are underway at the 274 MW Dolores wind farm, Enel’s largest single wind farm in Mexico.
Located in the Municipality of China, Nuevo Leon, the park represents the company’s first project in that province. The total expenditure in the construction of Dolores is approximately $290 million and will be able to produce up to 938 GWh per year, preventing the emission of more than 525 000 tons of CO2 per year.
The installation of the 83 latest generation wind turbines on the wind farm, as well as the substation of the park, has been completed. Furthermore, the energization of the park has been carried out successfully and, at the last point, the pre-operational tests have been completed, thereby helping to ensure the reliability of the National Electric System.
“The installation of Dolores’s full capacity demonstrates once again Enel Green Power’s commitment to develop sustainable projects that provide economic value and environmental benefits not only to Mexico’s National Electric System, but also to all social groups involved in the project. With the energization of this project, we are introducing innovative and reliable technologies that seek to contribute to the economic reactivation of the country while contributing to its pursuit of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the targets outlined in the Paris Agreement.“
Paolo Romanacci, country manager for Enel Green Power México.
Dolores, which was awarded at the third long-term auction in November 2017, is backed by a contract for the selling of unique energy volumes to the clearing house of the Mexican Center for Energy Control (CENACE) for a period of 15 years and a renewable energy certificate for a period of 20 years.
The construction of Dolores was based on the “Sustainable Construction Site” model of Enel, which involves the assessment of the socio-environmental impact of the project and measures aimed at integrating the appropriate use of resources, such as water management and waste recycling.
Other projects included the re-use of on-site wood to create eco-friendly furniture and containers for use by the local community. In addition , the project supported the development of approximately 400 direct and indirect jobs, mostly in towns near the park, to the benefit of the regional economy.
The Dolores Wind Farm is one of the four wind power plants awarded to Enel for a total capacity of 647 MW at the third long-term auction in 2017. In addition to this initiative, the Group was awarded Amistad II with an installed capacity of 103 MW, Amistad III with an installed capacity of 108 MW and Amistad IV with an installed capacity of 162 MW, all located in Acuña, Coahuila, the largest energy company in Mexico.