Algeria seals deal for first ever wind farm
ALGERIA: Algeria's first industrial-scale wind farm is due to be up and running in 2012 according to a contract signed recently between the national electricity and gas company, Sonelgaz, and French turbine manufacturer Vergnet.
The wind farm is set to be built at Adrar in Algeria's southern desert
Following an international tender call, Vergnet was selected to build the 10 MW facility and install ten of its GEV HP 1 MW turbines, at Adrar, in the southern desert.
Vergnet's offer of EUR 24 million plus DZD 9.62/kWh (EUR 0.094) beat a higher bid from German industrial services giant Man Ferrostaal.
The project was originally slated for Tindouf, a military town on the border with Morocco, but had to be moved because of the army's concerns over potential interference with its radars.
Adrar has the advantage of being connected to the national grid. Average wind speeds at the site are around 7m/s.
