Latin America edges closer to largest wind project

It’s not an area famed for its renewable energy advancements, but Latin America has taken a step towards building its largest wind farm, after an order for 132 turbines was accepted.

The Mareña Renovables project, located on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, in the Mexican state of Oaxaca, will produce 396 megawatts (MW) worth of electricity, and is being managed and installed by Danish manufacturer, Vestas.

When finished, it will provide power to Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. (FEMSA) – Latin America’s leading consumer company, and owner of the largest Coca-Cola bottler, Coca-Cola FEMSA, in the region.

It will also power Cuauhtémoc Moctezuma, a major Mexican brewery that’s part of Heineken International, and OXXO, a franchised chain of convenience stores in the country.

Alfonso Garza, director of human resources and strategic procurement at FEMSA, said, “This power supply agreement will help us cover our energy needs in a sustainable way.

“Today, wind power is a reliable, competitive and clean source of energy and, therefore, it should be integrated in our energy supply mix.”

The project will go a long way to help Mexico achieve its 50% carbon reduction target by 2050, and should inspire similarly underdeveloped nations to take full advantage of the renewable energy industry’s potential.

Investor interest in renewables is also needed to catapult the sector into the mainstream agenda. Ask your IFA about how to invest in such companies or funds, or fill in our online form and we’ll connect you to someone who can help.

You can also get in touch with Good Energy, the UK’s only 100% renewable electricity supplier, if you want your home to be powered by clean energy.

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Picture source: Walmart