Portugal Wind Energy Situation

Abstract: In the last few years, the wind energy development in Portugal has increased enormously. Since 2000 there was an expansion from 76MW to the actual 1908MW, with an annual average increase of approximately 68 % last year. To reach the 39 % target set for the installed capacity from renewable sources until the year 2010, Portuguese plans, assumed by the governmental authorities and wind park investors, addresses until that year the installation of 3750 MW, multiplying the actual capacity, by approximately, two times. Last year wind energy has represented 6 % of the total energy produce in the country, and it is expected that in 2010 this value rise until 15%. This work intends to describe the wind potential in Portugal in several aspects, meteorological, technological and economical