Georgia to construct wind power plants
By Nazrin Gadimova
Wind power plants will be constructed in Georgia, candidate for the post of Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze said, speaking in Parliament on November 19.
According to Kaladze, the work on the project has already begun and in the coming months the implementation and construction will start.
"This will be the first project of constructing 20 megawatt wind power plants, but there is the prospect and possibility of building additional 150 megawatt wind power plants," he said.
Kaladze said a tower, equipped with special devices that provide accurate data on the strength of the wind has been installed.
"Unfortunately, Georgia is 75 percent dependent on foreign energy sources, especially on Azerbaijan and Russia, but we have a real opportunity and resources to become energy independent in the near future, and these resources will be used," Kaladze said.
Georgia possesses extensive wind energy potential. Wind velocity measurements have been carried out over several decades at 165 metrological substations.
According to research, the most suitable areas for wind power plants in Georgia are in the Caucasus high mountain zone, the highlands of southern Georgia (Javakheti region), and the southern part of the Black Sea coast.
Currently 40 projects are underway in Georgia to build hydro-power plants, whose total minimum capacity is 1,872 megawatts and average annual generation volume is about 7.3 billion kilowatt/hours of electricity.
After Georgia gained independence, the process of energy sector rehabilitation was launched, and this led to the formation of the electric power system as a separate independent structure. In particular, the power generation plants were established as independent electric power stations and a number of energy companies have been established.