CONTOURGLOBAL CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF OPERATION OF ITS TALARA AND CUPISNIQUE WIND FARMS AND A DECADE OF WIND ENERGY IN PERU

17 October 2024 | Peru | Author: ContourGlobal

 

  • Ten years ago, the Talara and Cupisnique wind farms marked the beginning of large-scale wind energy in Peru, with a total installed capacity of 114 MW.
  • With their 62 wind turbines, the plants built by ContourGlobal have generated an average of 444 GWh of clean electricity each year since they began operations, enough to power 350,000 Peruvian families for an entire year.

Lima, October 17, 2024 – ContourGlobal, an independent power producer with a diversified global presence, proudly celebrates the 10th anniversary of the start of operations of its Talara and Cupisnique wind farms. These plants marked the beginning of large-scale wind energy in Peru. With a total installed capacity of 114 MW (31 MW at Talara and 83 MW at Cupisnique), the plants represent not only a milestone for ContourGlobal but also for the development of renewable energy in the country.

The celebration event, held in Lima, brought together around 60 representatives from the country’s electricity sector, including generation operators, distributors, institutions, the system operator, the Peruvian Renewable Energy Association, and thought leaders. The gathering provided an opportunity to reflect on the future of renewable energy in Peru and discuss the opportunities and challenges facing the sector.

ContourGlobal CEO, Antonio Cammisecra, commented during the event, “Ten years later, we are incredibly proud of what we have achieved in Peru. Our wind farms have not only generated clean, renewable energy but have also significantly contributed to the country’s energy security by reducing fossil fuel consumption and protecting the environment. Looking ahead, ContourGlobal remains committed to expanding renewable energy in Peru, with new opportunities to increase our capacity at Talara and Cupisnique, further contributing to the country’s energy goals.”

 

ContourGlobal’s Future Projects in Peru

ContourGlobal aims to leverage its global capabilities—managing 126 power plants in 18 countries with a total installed capacity of approximately 5.6 GW and a development pipeline of nearly 6 GW—to explore new growth opportunities. Peru has tremendous potential for the continued development of clean energy, particularly wind and solar, which currently represent only 6% of the country’s electricity generation, lagging behind other regional markets. Places like Talara, with its extraordinary winds and high solar potential, offer ContourGlobal the concrete possibility of adding solar generation alongside expanding the current wind farm. At Cupisnique, thanks to a grid infrastructure ready to support greater capacity, the expansion of the wind farm is already underway. These opportunities would allow ContourGlobal to quickly add up to 270 MW of  new renewable capacity to the Northern region’s grid, taking advantage of infrastructure synergies while contributing to a cleaner national system, more resilient to climate change and unfavorable hydraulic cycles. The company is also exploring expansion options in the south of the country, in collaboration with other operators or through acquisitions.

 

Impact of the Talara and Cupisnique Wind Farm Construction and Operation

More than 270 people from six nationalities participated in the construction of the two plants, where 62 wind turbines were installed, adding 114 MW of additional capacity to the country since 2014. Over 10 years, with an average annual production of 444 GWh and a strong operational safety record, these plants have saved the consumption of more than 42 million cubic meters of natural gas annually. In the last decade, they have also avoided the emission of more than 3 million tons of CO2 into the atmosphere. The energy produced has been equivalent to the power consumption of 350,000 peruvian families each year, covering 80% of the energy consumption of the provinces of Talara or Pacasmayo.

 

 

 

 

About ContourGlobal – ContourGlobal, a KKR Company, is an established Independent Power Producer (IPP) developing, acquiring and operating electricity generation assets worldwide. The company currently manages more than 5.6 GW of installed capacity in 18 countries across Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America. With a current share of renewables capacity below 30%, the company has committed to speed up the decarbonization of its portfolio with a sustainable transition of its thermal fleet, the repowering of existing renewable assets and the organic development of new renewable projects. ContourGlobal has pipeline of about 6GW of development projects and a track record of almost 20 years of experience in partnering with communities, institutions and customers that benefit from its power supply through long-term contracts or innovative PPAs, coupled with energy management solutions.