• The wind facility, which is expected to be completed in 2021,will involve an overall investment of around 273 million euros

• Enel Russia’s 90 MW Azov wind farm is also under construction, while the 71 MW Rodnikovsky wind project was awarded in June to the company, which is investing approx. 495 million euros in all three facilities

• The company’s renewable investment in Russia is in line with the Enel Group’s target to fully decarbonise its generation mix by 2050

 

Murmansk, September 19th, 2019 – Today, construction works started at Enel Russia’s Kolskaya wind project, located in the Murmansk region. With 201 MW of installed capacity, the facility is the largest wind farm currently under construction beyond the Arctic Circle. Construction works will be carried out by Enel Green Power, the Enel Group’s business line dedicated to the development, construction and operation of renewables around the world. Today’s ground-breaking ceremony was attended by Enel Group’s Head of Europe and Euro-Mediterranean Affairs Simone Mori, Enel Russia General Director Carlo Palasciano Villamagna, Governor-elect of the Murmansk region Andrey Chibis, Italian Ambassador to Russia Pasquale Terracciano and other representatives of regional and federal authorities.

The overall investment of Enel Russia into the Kolskaya wind farm amounts to approximately 273 million euros.

“We are breaking ground on a strategic wind project before Murmansk Region authorities and the Enel Russia board of directors, which met today in Murmansk, underscoring the importance given to this project. With the start of construction of this facility, we are confirming our commitment to Russia’s energy transition towards a low-carbon economy. This wind project, which is the first major renewable facility located beyond the Arctic Circle will help to diversify the energy profile of the Murmansk region by leveraging on its abundance of wind resources. Looking ahead, we will continue to work on projects that further the energy transition, in pursuit of the Group’s 2050 full decarbonisation target”

– Simone Mori, Enel Group’s Head of Europe and Euro-Mediterranean Affairs

“We proudly announce our expansion beyond the Arctic Circle with an environmentally friendly technology like wind power. Leveraging on our Group’s renowned expertise, we are bringing wind technology to areas with challenging environmental and weather conditions. The innovative profile of the project, together with its sustainability features, are meant to support the economy of the Murmansk region while contributing to the country’s overall energy mix with zero-emission power”

– Carlo Palasciano Villamagna, General Director of Enel Russia

“Murmansk is a strategic region from several points of view, including its industrial sector. Power security north of the Arctic Circle is vital not only for us but for the whole country, more importantly, in the context of significant infrastructure construction projects which are now being carried out in the region. The wind farm under construction is an additional echelon for providing such a security. The project benefits from the abundant wind resources of Murmansk, which we are planning to turn into an advanced region, and the use of state-of-the-art technologies as well as the latest trends like “green” energy are a direct step towards this aim”

– Andrey Chibis, Governor-elect of the Murmansk region

Enel Russia was awarded the 201 MW Kolskaya wind farm project in the 2017 Russian Government tender for the construction of 1.9 GW of wind capacity in the country along with the 90 MW Azov wind farm project, which is currently under construction and due to be commissioned at the end of 2020.

In June 2019 Enel Russia was awarded another wind project of over 71 MW, Rodnikovsky wind farm, located in the Stavropol region, and due to be commissioned in the first half of 2024. Enel Green Power is in charge of the development and construction of all the projects.

Enel Russia’s overall investment in the three facilities amounts to approximately 495 million euros, underscoring the company’s major commitment to energy mix diversification through zero-emission technologies. This investment is in line with the Enel Group’s overall target to fully decarbonise its generation mix by 2050.

The Kolskaya wind farm is expected to be commissioned by the end of 2021 and will be able to generate around 750 GWh per year, avoiding the emission of around 600,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere each year. The wind facility will consist of 57 turbines covering a 257-hectare area.

Enel Russia’s wind project in the Murmansk region is backed by a Cooperation Agreement in Renewable Energy Development signed with the Government of Murmansk region in November 2018. This agreement aims at increasing Murmansk region’s economic potential, including through the establishment of new power production and energy infrastructure facilities.

The Russian government started launching yearly renewable tenders in 2013 to reach 4.5% of energy generation from renewables and 5.5 GW of installed renewable capacity by 2024.