Totoral Wind Farm registered as a Clean Development Mechanism project
7-12-2010
Today, the 46 MW Totoral Wind Farm in Chile was registered as a Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) project with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This gives the project right to issue Certified Emission Reductions (CERs) given that the project helps mitigating greenhouse gases.
The Totoral project is expected to produce an average of 70.000 CERs per year, and has been granted a 21 (3x7) year crediting period.
SN Power`s fourth CDM project
Totoral is SN Power’s fourth project to be registered as a CDM project and the first wind park developed by the company worldwide. SN Power has previously registered three run of river hydropower plants with the CDM Executive Board; La Higuera in Chile, Allain Duhangan in India and Cheves in Peru.
SN Power’s four registered CDM projects have the potential to issue carbon credits amounting to more than 1,2 million CERs annually.
What are carbon credits?
The Kyoto Protocol entered into force in 2005 and has since been ratified by 184 countries. The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), as defined under the Kyoto Protocol, allows a country with an emission-reduction commitment under the Kyoto Protocol to implement an emission-reduction project in developing countries. Such projects can earn CERs, each equivalent to one tonne of CO2, which can be counted towards meeting Kyoto targets.
The CDM stimulates sustainable development and emission reductions, while giving industrialized countries some flexibility in how they meet their emission reduction or limitation targets.
About Totoral
Totoral is located outside the town of Canela, near 300 kilometres north of the Chilean capital Santiago. The Totoral Wind Farm came into operation in December 2009, and generates an annual average of 110 GWh of electricity to the Chilean central grid, enough to fulfil the needs of around 50 000 Chilean households.
Totoral consists of 23 two-megawatt Vestas Wind Systems turbines. All windmills are 125 meters high and weigh 225 tons.
About SN Power:
SN Power is a Hydropower development company, operating exclusively in emerging markets. The company is a joint venture between Statkraft and Norfund and has projects and operations in Asia, Latin America and Africa. SN Power is working to develop a portfolio in the range 4000 MW of Hydropower plants by 2015, while combating climate change and contributing to sustainable development. SN Power has over 5.000 people employed in twelve countries around the globe. The headquarters is in Oslo, Norway.
Media Contacts
Elsbeth Tronstad, Executive Vice President Communications and CSR;
Mobile: +47 90 58 23 83 / Elsbeth.tronstad@snpower.no
Karin Greve-Isdahl, Communications Director;
Mobile: +47 41 19 23 29 / Karin.Greve-isdahl@snpower.no