Iberdrola starts Tâmega Norte complex

Iberdrola began commissioning the Tâmega Norte wind farm on May 14, bringing into operation the first phase of what the company says is the Iberian Peninsula’s first grid-connected hybrid wind-hydro development. The project sits between Braga and Vila Real, in the municipalities of Cabeceiras de Basto and Montalegre, and links new wind generation to Iberdrola’s existing pumped-storage hydro system on the Tâmega River. (iberdrola.com) Iberdrola said Tâmega Norte is the first of two wind farms planned for the complex. The company said the combined development will use shared grid infrastructure and existing substations in the Tâmega electroproduction system. ### What exactly has started at Tâmega Norte? (iberdrola.com) May 14 was the date Iberdrola gave for the start of commissioning at Tâmega Norte, which it described as entering its final stage of works. The company said the wind farm has installed capacity of 195 megawatts and includes 27 Vestas turbines rated at 7.2 MW each. Annual output from Tâmega Norte is expected to reach about 414 gigawatt-hours, Iberdrola said. Braga and Vila Real are the districts where the project is located, and Iberdrola said the wind farm connects through the Portuguese national grid hub in Ribeira de Pena. The northern connection runs from the Daivões substation, the company said, while the southern section of the broader project will connect from Gouvães. (iberdrola.com) ### How large is the full Tâmega wind build-out? Iberdrola said the full Tâmega wind development comprises two wind farms, Tâmega Norte and Tâmega Sul, with combined capacity of 274 MW. The company’s project page says the two sites will use 38 wind turbines and generate about 601 GWh a year once fully operational. Iberdrola has described the development as Portugal’s largest wind farm and said it would be enough to supply clean power to about 400,000 people. (iberdrola.com) January 15 was the date the European Investment Bank said it signed a 175 million euro green loan with Iberdrola to support construction and operation of the two wind farms. The EIB said the project would be integrated into Iberdrola’s Tâmega pumped-storage hydropower complex and backed by a guarantee from Spain’s export credit agency Cesce. (iberdrola.com) ### How much money is attached to this phase? Iberdrola said total investment for the two wind farms amounts to 346 million euros on a TOTEX basis. Of that amount, 237 million euros is allocated to Tâmega Norte and 109 million euros to Tâmega Sul, according to the company’s May 14 release. Iberdrola’s broader project page rounds the overall figure to about 350 million euros. (iberdrola.com) The European Investment Bank said its 175 million euro loan supports both construction and operation of the wind farms. The bank said the project contributes to climate and cohesion goals and to the European Union’s REPowerEU plan, an assessment attributed by the bank to its own policy framework. (iberdrola.com) ### Why is Iberdrola calling this a hybrid project? Iberdrola said the project combines two new wind farms with three existing hydropower plants in the Tâmega pumped-storage complex: Gouvães, Daivões and Alto Tâmega. The company said the arrangement lets wind and hydro share the same grid connection infrastructure and store energy for release when the system requires it. (iberdrola.com) Iberdrola said that configuration reduces infrastructure needs and environmental impact while improving system stability. Northern Portugal is where the complex is located, close to Porto, according to the EIB and Iberdrola. Iberdrola has referred to the wider hydro system as the “Tâmega gigabattery,” a pumped-storage complex that already anchors the new wind additions. (iberdrola.com) ### What comes next at the site? Tâmega Sul is still under construction, and Iberdrola said it is expected to generate about 185 GWh a year once completed. The company’s project page says construction across the wind farms will continue until the third quarter of 2026, with transport of all turbine material due before the end of the first half of the year. (iberdrola.com) Vestas is the turbine supplier for the project, Iberdrola said, and Portuguese companies including CJR, Conduril, Socorpena, Painhas and Proef are involved in the broader build-out. Iberdrola said the next milestone is completion of the remaining works at Tâmega Sul and full operation of the 274-MW wind portfolio tied into the Tâmega hydro system. (iberdrola.com 1) (iberdrola.com 2)