On the Cantabrian coast and across Galicia to Asturias, a shift in Europe’s industrial landscape unfolds. The northern seas, including the North Sea and the Baltic, have long nurtured a prosperous offshore sector, built on masts, foundations, and stainless steel structures forged by firms from Galicia and Asturias. The region’s factories have become a backbone of European industrial strength, supplying components that power major offshore wind projects.
Spain aims to lead Europe’s energy transition, with northern Spain poised as a pioneer of what many call a green revolution. Along the Cantabrian coast, Iberdrola—a world leader in renewable energy—drives projects and coordinates activity that position Europe as a model for decarbonisation. The Iberdrola Group, rooted in Galicia, Asturias, and the Basque Country, acts as a catalyst in the European supply chain for offshore wind components and related technologies.
The alliance between Iberdrola and Navantia in Ferrol, together with Windar in Asturias, has enabled the production of key offshore wind components used in Iberdrola projects across Germany, France, and the United Kingdom from these northern Spanish sites. Off the shores of Winkinger in Germany, Saint-Brieuc in France, and East Anglia in the United Kingdom, wind farm foundations trace their origin to northern Spain. Through this collaboration, Galicia, Asturias, and the Basque Country take a leading role in manufacturing the most advanced offshore construction components.
Navantia Seanergies and Windar are delivering 45 single masts for three offshore wind farms in East Anglia. This marks the largest contract ever won for a foundation of this kind by the Navantia-Windar partnership. Production will occur at the Navantia and Windar monopiles facility at the Fene shipyard in A Coruña.
When operational in 2026, the generation site will boast a capacity of 1,400 MW, delivering clean energy to about 1.3 million homes. This new order reinforces Navantia Seanergies-Windar’s leadership in this product line and extends a collaboration that has exceeded nine years with Iberdrola, which has contracts surpassing €1,000 million for offshore wind farms in the UK, Germany, France, and the United States.
Basque company Haizea Wind joins the offshore park, signing a contract exceeding €200 million with Bilbao to supply 50 monopiles for the East Anglia Three project. This work is developed in the United Kingdom through Scottish Power, Iberdrola’s British subsidiary, from its facilities in the Port of Biscay. The Haizea Wind Group’s order portfolio has surpassed €1,500 million over the next four years in Bilbao, underscoring its technical and manufacturing strength. The 50 monopiles Haizea will produce for Iberdrola will support the UK’s East Anglia Three wind turbines. The park will reach a total capacity of 1.4 GW, supplying clean energy to more than a million British homes.
As outlined in the contract, Haizea Bilbao will manage material procurement, fabrication process engineering, and the production of the single masts. The expansion of Haizea’s capacity at the Port of Bilbao aligns with the firm’s strategic growth plan, aiming to secure a pivotal position in the offshore wind value chain and to bolster core generation and supply companies in the sector.
The Saint-Brieuc offshore wind farm in France stands as another example of northern Spain’s industry strength. Navantia contributes around 40% of the offshore platforms used to support wind turbines. This level of involvement highlights Galicia, Asturias, and the Basque Country as key players in European offshore wind infrastructure.
1,250 jobs in Avilés and Fene
The €350 million Saint-Brieuc project represents the largest order to date for the Navantia-Windar alliance in offshore wind. The contract has directly created 1,250 jobs in Avilés and Fene, signaling a meaningful impact on regional employment and skills development. In addition, Navantia-Windar inaugurated a factory in Brest, France, producing components that support numerous park-related platforms and construction activities, contributing to regional job growth.
Through these orders, Navantia has established itself as a global benchmark for offshore wind components and a leading supplier in France, with significant development potential across Europe. The Saint-Brieuc project demonstrates how a Spanish multinational, supported by a robust supplier network, can drive European wind energy development while strengthening regional industry chains.
The maintenance vessel for the Breton offshore wind farm was built at the Balenciaga shipyards in Zumaia, in the Basque Country. Iberdrola, a world leader in green energy, has joined forces with Siemens Gamesa, a premier wind turbine manufacturer, and a long-standing shipyard partner in Balenciaga. The shipyard launched an SOV vessel designed to provide technical support to the offshore park, marking a milestone in European offshore operations.
Another vessel, Edda Wind, measuring 83.4 meters long and about 19 meters wide, was built in Zumaia to ferry maintenance crews to parks located more than 60 kilometers offshore, staying at the marine facility for two weeks at a time. This vessel exemplifies the operational capabilities developed alongside Europe’s offshore wind ambitions.
The renewable energy focus extends into photovoltaic power in Asturias. The Bilbao-based Iberdrola partner Exiom has joined forces to manufacture solar panels in Spain, establishing a major solar construction facility in Langreo, Asturias. The project will begin producing panels this year and positions the Langreo region to become a hub for solar manufacturing in Europe. The €20 million investment is expected to create 115 direct jobs and revitalize the mining basin by bringing part of the renewable energy value chain to the region. Exiom, a fully Spanish-owned firm based in Asturias, is one of Europe’s few Tier 1 manufacturers listed for strategic importance.
The Langreo plant is planned to anchor a broader EU production network for photovoltaic components, with an initial priority on solar panels. This initiative aligns with Iberdrola’s broader strategy to deepen European value chains in renewable energy and with the European Green Deal Industry Plan recently introduced by the European Commission.
With these initiatives, the Cantabrian Sea emerges as a strategic arena for a self-sufficient, environmentally responsible Europe. Iberdrola’s commitment to local industries and suppliers marks a historic opportunity for northern Spain to participate in a robust, 100% green economy and a renewed industrial base built around renewable energy.