Norwegian wind developer Fred.Olsen Renewables was granted a license for the construction and operation of the 135 megawatt Gilja wind farm in the municipality of Gjesdal, southeast Norway on Monday.
According to Norway's Oil Ministry, Oslo-based Fred.Olsen Renewables wind farm will be able to produce around 400 gigawatt-hours of electricity annually, which corresponds to the electricity consumption of around 20,000 homes.
'Gilja is among the better wind power projects the Ministry has processed. The project will help to significantly increase renewable energy production and provides employment in a region that is in a demanding situation,' said Energy Minister of Norway, Tord Lien.
Northern countries, such as Norway and Sweden, consider wind power a reliable energy for the future, and both countries decided to increase their target for renewable electricity production in March 2015.
Under the new target, the two Nordic countries aimed to raise the amount of electricity they produce in total from renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro or biomass to 28.4 terawatt-hours (TWh) per year by 2020 from the current 26.4 TWh.
This new target became effective on Jan. 1, 2016, pending legislative approval in both countries.
By Murat Temizer
Anadolu Agency
murat.temizer@aa.com.tr