St. Nikola
Saint Nikola Wind Farm is in every aspect compatible with the National Energy Strategy, the Kyoto requirements and the EU directives that encourage energy production from renewable energy sources (RES) on the home market. The objective is the production of energy from renewable energy sources in EU to reach levels of at least 20% of the total energy consumption in 2020. The operation of Saint Nikola Wind Farm will help significantly for the fulfillment of the commitment, which Bulgaria has undertaken as a full member of EU, namely the consumed energy generated by renewable energy sources to reach 16% by 2020.
With the putting into operation of the 156 MW capacity of Saint Nikola Wind Farm the wind power capacities of Bulgaria are being doubled and reach about 330 MW. A direct expression of the added pure energy is the saving of more than 300 000 tons of carbon emissions a year or about 6 million tons for a 20 years exploitation period.
The wind farm has no impact on the habitats and birds in the region, and this has been established by intensive research monitoring and analyses both by Bulgarian and international experts. On the basis of the scientific work, many additional measures for minimizing the possible adverse effect on the environment were proposed, planned and carried out. These additional measures are entirely in compliance with the Bulgarian and European legislation. The project entirely meets the environmental and social standards of the financing institutions – the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and the International Finance Corporation. Some of these standards are significantly higher than the requirements of the European legislation.
The wind farm is situated on a territory that requires exceptional attention to the migrating birds. This imposed the carrying out of 5-year preliminary monitoring of the spring and autumn bird migration, as well as monitoring during the operation of the wind farm. The research has been made by the Institute of Zoology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) and by competent international experts.
On the suggestion of the Bulgarian Society of Bird Protection, a radar system has been installed that gives an early warning for approaching flocks and allows turbine shut-down in case of unfavorable weather. Decision to shut down the turbines will be made on the basis of radar warning and field ornithological data. A turbine shut-down system managed by independent ornithologists has also been developed. This practice is innovative even for the European and world standards.
AES Geo Energy cares in its work for preservation of the environment and has clear vision for the future. For the achievement of that objective, the company has initiated and maintains an open dialogue with all the parties concerned – NGOs, representatives of municipal and state authorities, scientific circles. Thanks to this open dialogue, a number of changes to the project have been made that helped the meeting of the highest environmental requirements.
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