Wpd obtains wind power approvals in Greece for 225 MW

Wpd has won environmental approvals for a wind power project of 147.6 MW in Central Greece and one for 77 MW in Thrace, in the country’s northeast.

Some of Germany-based wpd’s wind power investments in Southeastern Europe are struggling with delays and controversies – like in Montenegro and Bulgaria, but it is gaining speed in Greece. Right after its subsidiary WPD Wind Energy 2 obtained environmental terms (AEPO) from the Ministry of Environment and Energy in Athens for a 77 MW facility in Boeotia (Viotia), WPD Wind Energy 1 reached the same milestone for a future 147.6 MW wind park near Alexandroupolis, Newmoney reported.

The latter project didn’t go smoothly. It went through numerous changes due to fire and bird protection issues. Nevertheless, the Natural Environment and Climate Change Agency issued a negative opinion a month ago.

Wpd is planning to install 26 wind turbines in Fera in the municipality of Alexandroupolis and in Soufli in neighboring Tychero. The sites, Kato Limnes, Makrylofos, Voskotopos and Kounia, are in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace.

The German renewables developer has more than halved the planned number of turbines in Thrace while the capacity would be virtually the same

The initial design was for 59 units of 2.5 MW each. The developer eventually switched to 21 turbines of 6 MW, two of 4.5 MW and three of 4.2 MW, of which one would be limited to 4.1 MW. They would all be of the Vestas V150 type.

Road construction works would cover 45 kilometers, but including improvements to existing roads in the length of 42 kilometers. The project involves the construction of two 150/33 kV substations and underground cables of 40.5 kilometers for 33 kV and 7.7 kilometers for 150 kV power lines.

The 77 MW wind power project is for the locations of Megali Rachi, Kroniza and Kanavari in the Aliartos-Thespies municipality, in the central part of Greece. The facility would consist of 11 Siemens Gamesa turbines.

Wpd entered the Greek renewable energy market in 2020 and has since been developing wind and photovoltaic projects. It is also active in Croatia, Romania, North Macedonia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.