Mongolia to welcome wind farm

Mongolia is to welcome 50 MW Wind Farm within 5 years. The Energy Regulatory Commission made a decision to construct a 50 megawatt wind farm in Tsogt-Tsetsii sub-province, SouthGobi province. The approved five-year permit of construction was given to Clean Energy Company. Mongolia is seeking alternatives to fossil fuels like coal to power its industry and mining. The government is targeting 20 to 25 percent of its energy to be from renewable sources by 2020.

Wind speeds in Gobi Desert speeds exceed 9 meters per second. The Gobi has the potential to yield 11 giga watts per year of solar energy, and 300,000 megawatts of wind power. By allowing the new wind farm to begin operation, the power station could produce 140 million to 160 million kilowatt-hours per year, and become an important contributor to the central grid. The wind farm will save 180,000 tones of coal, 1.2 million tones of water.