Saint Nikola Wind Farm has produced 1,541,438 MWh of electricity

March 15, 2015

The facility, which is owned by AES and Geo Power, has a unique migrating bird protection system

A total of 1,541,438 MWh of electricity has been produced by Saint Nikola Wind Farm for the five years of operation, which the wind farm celebrates on March 15, the Chief Operations Officer for AES Bulgaria Leroy Reid said. Thanks to the operation of the wind farm 1,2 million tons of CO2 emissions have been avoided.

The construction of the wind farm, which is a private partnership between AES and Bulgarian-German Geo Power, a minority shareholder in the project, started in 2009. The total installed capacity of the farm is 156 MW. It has 52 3-megawatt Vestas wind turbines, which makes it the largest wind power station in the country. The park significantly increases Bulgaria’s capacity in the production of energy from wind and helps the country to reach the requirements of the 20/20/20 European Union Program.

The wind farm has implemented and strictly maintains a system for monitoring and protection of migrating, overwintering and native birds, which is unique for Bulgaria and is an essential part of AES’s efforts to preserve the biodiversity in the region. When a signal is given about birds approaching the region of the wind farm, the generators are switched off, which reduces and eliminates the risk of collision. The system for monitoring and protection of birds is one of its kind in Bulgaria. It makes the farm a safe facility for production of wind energy in relation to biodiversity.

The total project investment in Saint Nikola is 270 million euro. As much as 198 million euro of the amount was secured by a bank consortium, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and UniCredit Bank.

Since 2009 AES Geo Energy has created more than 500 jobs during the construction period, about 12 permanent jobs, as well as business for the companies in the region that service the operation of the wind farm.

In recognition of the high standards maintained during the development and construction of Saint Nikola project, AES Geo Energy received two awards: Sustainable Energy Deal of the Year from EMEA Finance Magazine in 2008 and Investor of 2009 in the Energy Sector from InvestBulgaria Agency for production of electric power from renewable energy sources.

AES Geo Energy conducts an active social responsibility campaign in partnership with Kavarna Municipality by annually investing funds in social activities that improve the living conditions in the town of Kavarna and the municipality. For these activities, in 2013 AES Geo Energy was awarded the Municipal Donor Prize of the National Association of Municipalities in Bulgaria.

Saint Nikola Wind Farm is situated on the land territory of the villages Bulgarevo, Hadzhi Dimitar, Poruchik Chunchevo and Sveti Nikola belonging to Municipality of Kavarna. It covers an area of 60 km². By means of a 110 kV connecting power transmission line the electricity produced is transmitted to the electricity grid of Bulgaria.