Apparently large-scale wind generation is just around the corner. Research has indicated that there is a vast potential of this “free” energy in three percent of the Dominican Republic. The potential generation is estimated at 10,000 megawatts, five times the present local demand. The BHD Group and the Spanish consortium GAMESA are promoting the Guanillo Energy Park, which is said to be able to contribute 90 megawatts of power to the national network. The project is supposed to use 129 wind turbines.
In the Superintendent of Electricity’s office there are permit requests for projects that total 700 megawatts of energy. Ironically, however, the General Electricity Law (125-01) only allows for 20% of the nation’s energy to come from wind generation. Currently at least five companies have received provisional concessions from the SIE. Ortega Zeller has a permit to study the area around Imbert, Puerto Plata; Elite Decor to study the winds around Lake Enriquillo, Barahona; International Eolic Generation will look at La Isabela in Puerto Plata; Poseidon Renewable Energy will study Puerto Plata and the BHD-Gamesa group will study Guanillo in Monte Cristi province.
This last group is currently the most advanced in its development. They have created the Eolic Park of the Caribbean (PECASA) with an initial investment of US$15 million. Of this sum, 29% belongs to the BHD Group, 57% belongs to the Gamesa consortium and the remaining 14 % to private Dominican investors. The first step of the project is expected to cost US$40 million. Approval from the Ministry of the Environment, the Civil Aviation Department and the Military Map Service have been received and the Superintendent of Electricity has approved the plans for the connection to the high tension line that runs from Navarrete to Monte Cristi by means of a 12 kilometer transmission line.
However, the largest hurdle that the project faces is the lack of legislation that promotes the development of alternate, renewable energy sources. The debate on the incentives needed to spearhead this type of energy has been in the Congress for six years. The director of the National Energy Commission’s Alternate Energy department, Doroteo Rodriguez told Listin Diario reporters that the legislation has “many enemies”, principally the current power generators, since eolic generation is more than 25% cheaper that current costs for fossil fuel generation.
For a DR1 discussion on eolic energy, see http://dr1.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35678&page=1&pp=15