Today’s cornerstone laying ceremony for the Azov wind farm was attended by Enel Russia General Director Carlo Palasciano Villamagna, Governor of the Rostov region Vasiliy Golubev, Italian Ambassador to Russia Pasquale Terracciano and regional authorities.
"Today, with the start of construction of the Azov wind farm, we are all participating in a historical milestone for Enel Russia and for the renewable sector in this country. The Azov wind project will boost the Rostov region’s contribution to Russia’s renewables strategy as well as supporting a virtuous, clean economy circle locally and in the country as a whole,” said Carlo Palasciano Villamagna, General Director of Enel Russia.
Enel Russia’s overall investment in the Azov wind farm amounts to approximately 132 million euros. The wind farm is included in the list of priority investment projects drawn up by the Governor of the Rostov region.
The Governor of the Rostov region Vasiliy Golubev, said: “Today the Rostov region has made one more step towards maintaining its status as a leader in the power generation sector in the south of Russia. Until now, in the region, power has been generated using almost all main technologies, and now, we add “green” generation to this list. Our natural resources, personnel and industrial capabilities allow us to kick- start several wind projects in the Rostov region at the same time, the first to enter the construction phase being Enel Russia’s Azov wind project. We will create the optimal setting for our Italian partner to carry out the project in a positive and productive way.”
Pasquale Terracciano, Italian Ambassador to Russia, said: “Today is a great day, and the present event stands out as a bright example of one of the ways in which Italy may contribute to Russia’s transition to green energy sources by means of its technologies and know-how. Enel is a leading Italian investor in the
Russian Federation, and effective cooperation with the Rostov region would surely become a powerful stimulus for all Italian companies willing to invest in this region.”
The Azov wind farm is expected to enter into service by the end of 2020, and will be able to generate around 320 GWh of clean energy each year once fully operational, avoiding the annual emission of around 260,000 tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere. The project will consist of 26 turbines spread across 133 hectares.
Enel Russia was awarded the Azov wind farm, along with the 201 MW Murmansk wind farm, for a total capacity of 291 MW, in the 2017 Russian government tender for the construction of 1.9 GW of wind capacity in the country. Enel Green Power is in charge of the development and construction of both projects. Enel Russia’s overall investment in the two facilities amounts to approximately 405 million euros, with the investment on the 201 MW wind farm amounting to around 273 million euros.