Georgia plans 200MW wind build-out

Georgia plans to build at least four large-scale wind farms with a combined capacity of 200MW within the next three years.

The build-out will be part of the government’s existing plans to increase the share of wind power generation up to 20% of the country’s overall electricity supply by 2030.

The government selected the state-owned Georgian Energy Development Fund to invest in the projects and oversee their delivery.

The new wind farms will be built in the Zestafoni, Nigoza and Ruisi regions in central Georgia, according to Georgy Chikovani, head of the Georgian Energy Development Fund.

Feasibility studies are being carried out for the projects, with construction due to start by the end of the year.

The total volume of investments is estimated to be GEL 800 million  ($242 million).

Georgia is currently dependent on imports to meet its energy needs.

It has just one 20.7MW wind farm in the east of the country, which was commissioned in 2016, according to Windpower Intelligence, the research and data division of Windpower Monthly. The $34 million project was funded by the Georgian Energy Development Fund and the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development consists of six of Vestas’ V117-3.45 turbines.