BOLIVIA WIND FARM

The Bolivian Co-operative for Rural Electrification (CRE) in Santa Cruz is planning a 1.5-10 MW wind farm, the first in The Andes region of South America. The project is to be developed with support from Germany, says Fritz Kölling of the Bolivian renewable energy association. Sites for a potential of 40 MW close to the booming city have been investigated. With the national utility, ENDE, now privatised and incremental increases in Bolivia's generating capacity considered a necessity wind power is viewed as a new option in Bolivia's energy mix, says Kölling. Windpumps are already used in large numbers by the Mennonite colonies in the Chaco region of Bolivia and in Paraguay.