Energy futureIberdrola Renewables to launch six wind farms off Spanish coast
Spain is generating more and more of its energy from wind — and Spanish company applies for permits to open six off-shore wind farms which, in the aggregate, will generate 3,000 MW
Iberdrola Renewables pretende desarrollar seis proyectos de energía eólica marina en la costa española, que alcanzarán una potencia total de 3.000 MW y se ubicarán en Cádiz, Castellón y Huelva. La compañía ha presentado sus propuestas al Ministerio de Industria de acuerdo con la regulación actual, que establece un marco retributivo para estas instalaciones… Oops, we got carried away writing about a Spanish company, and for a moment forgot that this is an English-language publication! So let’s start from the beginning: Madrid-based Iberdrola Renewables plans to develop six offshore wind farm projects with an aggregate generation capacity of 3,000 MW at locations off the coasts of the Spanish Atlantic provinces of Cádiz and Huelva and the Mediterranean province of Castellón. The Company has submitted its proposals to the Ministry of Industry in accordance with current regulations and incentive frameworks. Specifically, Iberdrola Renewableshas requested that offshore sites be reserved for it to enable the company to conduct studies prior to applying for permits to build the facilities — Costa de la Luz (Huelva province), Punta del Gato (Huelva), Punta de las Salinas (Castellón), Costa de Azahar (Castellón), Costa de la Luz (Cádiz), and Banco de Trafalgar (Cádiz). Each would have a capacity of some 489 MW.
The timeframe for commissioning is between 2011 and 2015, so the installations are not included in Iberdrola Renewables’ 2008-2010 strategic plan, nor is their capacity included in the company’s current project pipeline, totalling some 42,000 MW. Note that the renewable energy unit of Spain’s IBERDROLA utility group also plans to add 200 MW of offshore wind power capacity in the United Kingdom, via the 167 MW West of Duddon Sands project and the 35 MW Shell Flats wind farm. The Company is also involved in the development of installations in Germany.
