Renewable energy bonanza in Basque country was 30 years in the making, and now gears up for floating wind farms
What Spain can teach Ireland about harnessing wind and pivoting to offshore renewablesIreland needs a dose of ‘Protestant pragmatism’, where power is delegated to the people
Ireland may not have the might of Spain, but “the Irish Government is doing a very good job in ramping up their progress. They are quite rightly focused on seabed-fixed in the short-term,” according to Chris Williams, head of floating wind with German renewables company RWE. A large wind turbine blade being made at a plant owned by Nordex-Acconia in Navarre, Spain. Photograph: Kevin O'Sullivan
Public acceptance of onshore turbines may be low in parts of Europe but former Barásoain mayor Rita Roldan says relationships with the developer changed once they felt they were being listened to. “We were reassured agriculture and wind farms can coexist.” Wind generates 19 per cent of Europe’s electricity. The EU wants to double it by 2030, with floating beginning to play a part. Analysis by industry body WindEurope shows this target is within reach. Investments are increasing as inflation has stabilised, while auction volumes – where state contracts are issued – are up.
On lessons for Ireland from what Bilbao has become, Dickson says it stems from the Basque region taking a strategic decision almost 30 years ago. It doesn’t have many wind farms but has built up industrial know-how; “it continues to grow on that industrial policy. Ireland is making a similar statement.”
An experimental wind turbine built by Acciona in Navarre, Spain. The tower is made from cement rather than steel
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