REUTERS NEWS SERVICE
December 22, 1999
The wind power plant, to have an installed capacity of 39 megawatt, would produce an estimated 150 gigawatt hours (GWh) per year, compared with Norway's total annual wind power output of around 40 GWh, the power watchdog said. "NVE has approved the plan because the wind power resources in the area are good, the production costs are moderate and the location based on the infrastructure is good," NVE said in a statement.
"The environmental impact of the project is also acceptable...There has been great local support for the project," it added.
NVE said it expected to evaluate during 2000 applications from windpower plant developments totalling 450 MW, which would give an annual production of 1.5 terawatt hour (TWh).
Around 99 percent of Norway's about 120 TWh annual electricity generation is hydropower while only one percent is thermal production.
Development of wind power resources and subsidies to such projects are in line with a government plan to encourage investments in renewable energy sources in Norway.