Sardinia’s New 1 MW Wind Farm

I’m planning to make yet another addition to my list of renewable energy investment opportunities: the development of a smallish wind farm in Sardinia.  Apparently, power from wind turbines that are rated under 60 KW is greeted with a huge feed-in tariff (more than 26 Eurocents per KWh for 20 years).  An associate of mine in Paris plans to deploy an array of 18 specially built small/mid-sized turbines (55 KW apiece) to generate a total nameplate capacity of 1 MW, using land high up on a rocky mesa, leased from a farmer with huge flocks of sheep.  He expects (as do I) an impressive capacity factor, as the wind resource up there is amazing.  “It very nearly blows you off your feet,” my associate explained in his solid, but heavily accented English.

He invited me to come and take a tour, pointing out that Sardinia is a great place to combine business with pleasure – something I’ve been known to do from time to time.  I actually have five or six other reasons to go to Europe, and I guess I’ll fit this in next time I go, even though, in this case, the business purpose really is debatable.  Yes, I need to meet my colleague in person, but I could do that in Paris; I already know what sheep and rocky bluffs look like.

In any case, to any accredited investors out there: if you’re interested, please let me know; the IRR (internal rate of return) on the project is fairly attractive.