Wind power in Spain
[1] Spain was an early leader in development of wind power, ranking second after Germany by installed capacity until 2006, when it was surpassed by the United States.
[9] In 2022, Spain's wind energy sector contributed significantly to the country's electricity supply, averaging 25% of total consumption.
On specific occasions, the contribution of wind power in Spain reached 50% of the total electricity demand, indicating the sector's capacity to meet a substantial portion of the country's energy needs.
[17] In September 2022, the Spanish Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge published a strategic roadmap for the development of offshore wind and marine energy.
This roadmap aligns with the "EU Strategy on Offshore Renewable Energy" and has resulted from a collaborative effort involving various stakeholders, including economic entities, governmental administrations, and the public.
[25] In 2007 Galicia led Spain in wind power development amongst the autonomous regions for the third consecutive year with an increase in wind power of 264 MW, succeeding Castilla La Mancha (which exceeded its development goal of 1,000MW), Castile and León, Aragon and Navarre, and the remaining autonomous regions.
[27] The assets of the Spanish industry were noticed and acted upon by financial analysts, as United States Ernst and Young in 2005 ranked the wind market in Spain among the uppermost in its index of "long-term country attractiveness".
[28] Including those indirectly employed in supplying components and services, the total number of jobs supported by Spain's wind industry had reached more than 30 000, and was estimated to double to 60 000 by 2010" (2005).
[35] In 2011/2 the company developed a prototype 6MW permanent magnet gearless generator for offshore applications, in association with LM Wind Power and Converteam.
Its line of work involved wind-farm operation, turbine manufacture, and the development of wind-power plants, and the company intended to expand into China, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.
[41] In 2003, there came a proposal to build the largest offshore wind farm in the world on the site of the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar, off the southwest coast of Spain.
[42] Opposition to wind power in Spain has emerged in rural communities, particularly in regions like Aragón, as the nation rapidly expands its renewable energy projects.
According to a report published in 2022 by Euronews, concerns have been raised about the environmental and visual impacts of large-scale wind farms and solar installations, leading to conflicts with local residents.
Groups like "Energy and Territory Alliance" (ALIENTE) have voiced their opposition, advocating for smaller, community-focused renewable projects over industrial-scale developments.
