Wind Energy

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by drmonkey22

Do you know where I can find detailed information on current wind farms in the DR? I have a general idea, about 18, just seeing if more have popped up or are planned....

There are 18 wind farms in the DR? The number sounds high to me. Where are these 18?

[drmonkey22]

I thought so too, but according to a Wind potential map that has "estaciones de vientos" marked throughout the country. I'm not sure to their size however, and then according to another map, there are 8. Just didn't know what to believe or where to find additional information.

[Texas Bill]

Since there are only 5-6 areas in the DR that have the constant wind velocity to sustain adequate production of electricityfrom wind generation, I don't think thefigureof 18 isaccurate.
In addition to thenarow band alond the North Coast aound La Isabel to Sosua and the area on the North side of the Samana Penninsula, there isno significant location feasible for Wind Farms.
The Hoteliers have already begun their campaigns against the building of Wind Farms in the Puerto Plata area citing unsightly construction and noise as the reasons for the negative responses.
These people are obiousoy more interested in the profits than in the future of the country relative to electricity production.

Texas Bill

[drmonkey22]

How do I know if the current transmission lines need added capacity if I was to put up some wind towers? Anybody know what costs look like to build transmission to rural spots? Thoughts and more questions.......

[Tom F.]

USAID funded a study of wind potential in the DR in late 90's. They also funded US $3million in wind and micro-hydro projects over the same period. The late Helmut Schorgmeyer worked on a few of these projects. They were scattered around different sites which had amonometers (sp?) had collected more than a years worth of wind information. The Cueto's property near the beach out by Guzman and Guzmancito had plans to do something. Then there was all this talk about wind farms on the North Coast, a few different sites mentioned over the last ten years. As far as I know there are 0 wind farms in the DR. There are some uses around the country of small turbines and the link shows us the best installation I have ever seen in the DR. That is impressive. The power shed would be a good idea. Does he really on this system as his only source of electricity?

As far as water pumping, I have seen hundreds of wind mills (not turbines) which pump water. I have spent quite a bit of time in the campos and the wind mills installed during the Trujillo regime are still working with even thought the well might not be good anymore. There were another series of wind mills installed during the Balaguer years which were always broken and not even close to being functional. With a good well your options for energy to pump the water are good. The solar water pumps work well and I have personally used then on the north coast and been involved in small community water pumping using solar.

Tom F.

[drmonkey22]

Anybody know what the number of built wind farms is in the DR? I have found lots of documentation on plans to build large MW farms, circa 2006 etc, however I'm having trouble finding updated information (2008) on the status of their construction.

[Tom F.]

Do you mean wind turbines rather than farms? Unless someone is pretty sneaky I still hold to 0 wind farms in the DR. Potential sites would be different. Tom F.