Spain wants to have between 15 and 17 floating wind farms offshore by the end of this decade, needing to develop a new technology for which it is a leader and could open up markets around the world. Floating wind energy has been a great hope for the future of “Wind Europe”, the most important congress of the industry held in Barakaldo this week. Efe agency is breaking down this technology with the help of Juan Virgilio Márquez, CEO of the Wind Energy Business Association (AEE).
Why are there still no windmill parks at sea in Spain?
Because the Spanish seabed is very deep. In the North Sea or the Baltic, windmills sit at the bottom where the depth is 50 meters, but in Spain, where it reaches kilometers, the solution is to build floating wind turbines instead of anchoring them on the seafloor.
Spanish leadership
Spain is the first prototype developer in the world. Of the thirteen currently existing floating test facilities, eleven were built by Spanish companies. There are prototypes in Gran Canaria and Bizkaia on the Spanish coast.
The tested solutions for floating windmills are varied: from the spar, a 60-metre vertical spar made of steel and concrete that stabilizes the wind turbine, to a telescopic concrete tower from the Eliza Canarian project. .
The disadvantage is that the technology is still in development, but it is also an opportunity for Spanish industry to continue to be the “champion” in the industry and open markets around the world. develop it.
Advantages
Floating wind turbines are set up in the harbor and float to their destination, while fixed ones have to be built at sea with huge cranes that require more complexity.
Once installed on the sea, production is much higher than its onshore counterpart as the wind is stronger and more stable.
Also, because they are far from the coast, the visual impact is minimal and the “land” has only one owner: the State.
Difficulties
It takes about six years to process the parks. The environmental statement is more complex than on land, because there is less information about their impact on the marine environment, and because the sea must be shared, places are sought that do not harm fishermen and interfere with sea routes.
Spain’s plans
In December, the Government approved a roadmap for offshore wind power with a target of reaching 3 gigawatts by 2030. In other words, assume 15 megawatts, 15-17 farms per machine, with the expected power of offshore wind turbines in 2028-2029. with 15-17 wind turbines each.
Spain has seven thousand kilometers of coastline, so they can be scattered.
It is crucial to develop a minimal local Spanish market that acts as a “tractor effect” on the entire value chain of floating wind power.
next steps
The first is to approve plans for the management of the marine area, identify possible locations and regulate its co-existence with other activities. It is expected to be this quarter.
Then, the first auction call, which will be announced at the end of the year and will be held in the first quarter of 2023.
Three subjects must be allocated at the same time in the auction: to be able to reserve space, test and measure; how to guarantee access and connection to the electricity grid for when the park starts operating, and a fee regime, ie compensation received by the project owner company for each megawatt produced. The target is to operate in 2028-2029.