2023-07-10 09:33:16
The end of coal and the progressive decarbonization of the economy have boosted the commitment of countries to renewable energy. In the Spanish case, the new Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) includes an investment of approximately 294,000 million euros for the development of green alternatives in 2030 and to ensure that 81% of electricity consumption comes from sustainable sources. And there is potential for generating them: if the hours of sunshine are an incentive for green hydrogen, the knowledge related to wind technology means that Spain can become a benchmark in offshore electricity generation infrastructure. For the period 2025-2030, it is estimated that the direct contribution to Spanish GDP of energy marine wind would be 9,581 million euros, according to the consultancy OCP. Of these, some 6,116 million are estimated in a scenario in which 75% of the activities take place in Spain, to which another 1,860 million would be added related to areas such as Operation and Maintenance, shipbuilding and other activities linked to the development of this energy.
The experts are optimistic and are even more ambitious than the Government. The Offshore Wind Roadmap contemplates the installation of between 1,000 and 3,000 megawatts (MW) of new power from floating structures (offshore) in seven years, while the European employers in the sector, WindEurope, estimates a development of 12,000 MW until 2027, a figure that would mean a 12% contribution to all installed power in the European Union. Last February, the Maritime Space Management Plans (POEM) were approved, where 5,000 square kilometers, 0.46% of national waters, have been delimited for the deployment of offshore wind energy. The selected areas are the North Atlantic, the Levantine-Balearic, the Strait and Alborán and those included in the Canary Islands.
Las Spanish companies they have also jumped on the offshore wind bandwagon. Iberdrola formalized at the end of March one of the largest contracts in its history for a value of 1,500 million euros to build 95 Siemens Gamesa wind turbines that would be built in the East Anglia Three offshore wind farm, in the United Kingdom, the second largest in the world, and has also signed an agreement to supply 200 gigawatt hours for 15 years to German steelmaker Stahl Holding Saar. For his part, Navantia and Windar A contract has been awarded with Ørsted and the Polish energy group PGE to manufacture 77 foundations for Baltica 2, a 1,500 MW offshore wind farm located in the Polish area of the Baltic Sea. Another company that has seen an opportunity is Power Energywhich entered at the end of May as the first shareholder of Eolink, a startup specialized in floating offshore wind power.
In the European Union They also show interest in this type of energy. His goals include the objective of reaching 60,000 MW installed in 2030 and 300,000 MW in 2050 and some countries have accelerated the start-up of their projects: Germany has 14% of offshore wind capacity with a power of 342 MW in the North Seas, while France has installed its first park of commercial-scale offshore installations in 2022. “The growing demand for this type of renewable technology, together with the increase in the installed power of offshore wind energy, have led to a growing appetite for this type of infrastructure in European ports,” they specify in the consultancy report.
This scenario, to which the objectives of decarbonisation and energy independence are added, represents “a great opportunity for the Spanish port system”. Among the opportunities, the raising of capital for the construction of new infrastructures and the remodeling of existing ones stands out. in the government roadmap, they deem necessary a investment of 500 to 1,000 million to cover the new logistics needssomething that can be taken advantage of by private and public capital.
The generation of this type of clean energy will also serve to electrify ports at a key moment due to the implementation of OPS (onshore power supply) technology and to increase the tons of goods in motion. According to OCP calculationsif 1,000 MW of offshore wind power is installed on our coasts, an additional 72,092 tons would be moved in Spanish ports, 0.3% more compared to the total traffic of 2022, but if the installed power reaches 14,000 MW, the volume of goods in motion would grow by 1,004,984 tons, 0.9% above the total. This increase “will help the Administrations in order to obtain more aid or funds and also to boost the notoriety and reputation of the ports”, they explain from the consultant.
Delays due to geography
Related news
Despite being one of the most advanced countries in relation to the development of onshore wind infrastructure, the country has been left out of the offshore race in recent years. OCP attributes to “the high depths that the earth’s crust presents on our coast“which has made it difficult to anchor fixed structures to the seabed, hence the progressive introduction of floating foundations raises hopes for the take-off of this type of energy. The commitment to offshore wind also carries risks for other sectors, such as the The Platform in Defense of Fisheries and Marine Ecosystems, made up of brotherhoods from the northwest of the peninsula, has filed an appeal before the Supreme Court against the Executive’s plan and they ask for its development based on dialogue between all the parts.
Respect for the protected natural environments or the protection of biodiversity These are also some of the challenges presented by the development of facilities to generate offshore wind energy, but also logistics. The mobilization and handling of the elements that make up these infrastructures, such as wind turbines, is complicated by their large dimensions and very high tonnage, and for this reason, large available areas are required for their manufacture and storage, as well as mobilization systems. very specific and heavy.
#Renewable #energies #development #offshore #wind #contribute #million #Spanish #GDP