Italian Enel, through its Greek renewables subsidiary Enel Green Power Hellas (EGPH), has started construction of the Kafireas wind power complex on the Island of Evia, the second largest island in Greece. Once completed, the new facility will be the largest wind farm in Greece with total installed capacity of 154 MW.
Enel will invest around EUR 300 million in the construction of Kafireas, which is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2019. It will be supported by a 20-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with the Hellenic Electricity Market Operator LAGIE.
Kafireas, which will feature a high voltage (150kV) interconnection line to the mainland comprising overhead, submarine and underground cables, will be able to generate approximately 483 GWh per year, which is equivalent to the annual energy consumption of around 129,000 citizens, Enel said.
The project will help avoid emissions of nearly 433,000 tons of CO2 annually.
New wind power complex will be built in the municipality of Karistos where EGPH already operates two wind farms, one with capacity of 7.5 MW and other with capacity of 9 MW. Karistos is situated in the southern part of the Island of Evia, the largest island in the Aegean sea.
EPHG is owner and operator of several renewable energy plants in Greece with total installed capacity of 308 MW.
“The start of construction of Kafireas marks a new step for Enel’s presence in Greece, where we have a decade-long experience in the renewables sector”, said Antonio Cammisecra, Head of Enel Green Power, the renewable energies division of Enel Group.
He added that the Kafireas project has showed that the company is not only committed to providing green and sustainable energy to Greece, but also to promote the social and economic development of local communities by adopting shared value approach.