The four groups are led by Energias de Portugal (EDP), local energy company Galp Energia, Spain’s Iberdrola and Gamesa and Italy’s Enel.
"Four groups of companies presented proposals," said Manuela Fonseca, an official at the economy ministry’s geology and energy department.
The two-phase project should generate 1,500 megawatts of wind power.
EDP estimated it would invest 1.3 billion euros ($1.55 billion) in an industrial plant if it wins the government auction for the wind power project.
"We are talking about an investment of about 1.3 billion euros that would create about 1,200 new jobs," an EDP spokesman said. EDP and its partners would create an industrial site in northern Portugal which would make equipment for the windmills, such as turbines, the spokesman said.
Galp Energia promised 1.035 billion euros in investments, it said in a statement. Galp’s consortium includes Enersis, a wind power company bought by Australian investment group Babcock & Brown last year.
Bidders had until 5 p.m. (1700 GMT) on Wednesday to present their bids to Portugal’s government, which should decide the winner by the summer.
750,000 HOMES
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The project will provide enough power for about 750,000 homes and is equal to about a quarter of the wind energy capacity installed last year in the 25-nation European Union, according to figures from the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).
The nation of 10 million people imports about 86 percent of its power, one of the highest levels in Europe, and is aiming to harness winds off the Atlantic Ocean and other renewable sources to counter rising fuel costs.
Portugal is also looking to wind to help meet its goals under the United Nations’ Kyoto Protocol, which aims to cut output of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide that are blamed for global warming.
Portugal’s emissions surged almost 37 percent from 1990 to 2003, the third-highest increase in the world, according to UN figures.
The project calls for a first phase of 1,000 megawatts of capacity and a second of 500 megawatts. The winner is expected to be announced during the summer.