Spain Sets Wind Energy Record

A new wind power record was achieved in Spain when strong gusts allowed its network of wind turbines to supply over 50 per cent of the country’s overall electricity needs. 

The amount produced at one point on November 8th was 11.5 GW - equivalent to the capacity of 11 typical nuclear power plants, and around 66 per cent of the maximum capacity of the wind turbines themselves. 

Wind Energy in Spain

The high concentration of turbines that collect wind energy in Spain makes it the third most prodigious harnesser of this renewable energy source – with the US and Germany in first and second place, respectively.  In feeding in 53 per cent of the energy used by the national grid, its wind turbines beat a previous 44 per cent record, and the end result was an over-abundance of power.  In other words – electricity beyond requirements.  Historically, this would have led to some turbines being temporarily deactivated but, this time around, the extra energy was either exported or redeployed into other renewable energy technologies like hydroelectric facilities. 

According to the Spanish Wind Energy Association’s Jose Donoso, its only very recently that the Spanish grid has been able to handle such a high wind energy input.  “We think that we can keep growing and go from the present 17 GW to reach 40GW in 2020”, Donoso – the association’s head – was quoted by a local newspaper as having stated.

Spanish Wind Farms

Overall, so far throughout November 2009, Spanish wind farms have produced more energy than all other electricity sources in the country.  Industry analysts now foresee Spain being in a position where renewable energy sources are providing around 25 per cent of the nation’s electricity by December 31st 2009.  They expect wind to spearhead this movement, with hydroelectric and solar following in its wake. 

According to the World Wind Energy Association, 440,000 jobs have been created within the wind energy sector to date. 

See also:

2010 Launch for 82 MW Cyprus Wind Farm

Denmark's World-Beating Offshore Wind Farm Opens