Portugal expands wind power

PORTUGAL - Portugal's General Directorate for Energy and Geology said wind power will provide 15 percent of the nation's electricity by 2010.

Currently, wind power represents about 4 percent of Portugal's electricity, but there are plans in place to increase that in coming years, Publico reported.

Portugal had 1,427 wind-powered generators at the end of August, generating 2,672 megawatts at 164 wind farms.

In addition, between January and August 2008, licenses were given for 384 megawatts of wind power, and wind power generation is expected to reach 2,800 megawatts by the end of the year.

Portugal also uses hydroelectric power to generate renewable energy, particularly in the north. An estimated 9,653 megawatts of renewable energy is generated at electricity facilities in Portugal.