Two wind projects qualify for Kyoto emission reduction credit status

Two wind power projects in Morocco recently qualified for Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) status under the Kyoto Protocol. Since CDM registration began in 2004, only 33 projects have qualified, of which just three are in the wind sector. The first, in June 2005, was the 25.8 MW Huitengxile plant in Inner Mongolia, China. It was followed by the 10.2 MW installation at the Lafarge cement factory in Tetouan, northern Morocco and a proposed 60 MW plant at Essaouira on Morocco's Atlantic coast. The Tetouan plant was developed by French wind power specialist La Compagnie du Vent, making it the first company in France with a CDM registered project. The Clean Development Mechanism is designed to encourage investment by industrialised countries, especially from the private sector, in emissions-reducing projects in developing countries. Projects should also contribute to sustainable development and to the transfer of environmentally-friendly technologies. After validation, CDM projects may be issued with Certified Emission Reductions (CERs), which can used by the owner to help meet its emission reduction obligations under the Kyoto Protocol. The first CERs were issued in October to two hydro-electric plants in Honduras.