10 September 2009

Reports are in for Spain: Wind energy's future bright

It is "technically viable and economically reasonable" for wind energy to account for 30% of Spain's overall energy production, according to one study from the University of Zaragoza.

Meanwhile, the number of jobs generated by this sector in the European Union increased by 226% since 2003, according to a report by two researchers from the University of Alcalá (UAH) and the European Wind Energy Association (EWEA).

Wind parks have a financially viable future, according to one study.

“Nowadays, wind farms supply around 12% of the electric energy produced in Spain, but by 2030 this could rise to 30%,” José Luis Bernal, of the Department of Electric Engineering of the University of Zaragoza and co-author of a study.

Bernal’s team has developed its own calculation method based on the amounts of energy contributed by various sources. The results show an energy mix, with wind energy providing 30%, solar energy 20%, and gas turbines a further 20% (10%-15% biogas and 5%-10% natural gas), is technically and economically viable in Spain. The remainder would consist of hydroelectric, geothermal, and biomass energy (20% between the three) and energy from carbon power plants (10%), which should apply carbon dioxide capture techniques in order to reduce their impact on global warming.

The proposal factors in the issue of wind turbines potentially standing still when there is wind, looks to a contribution by fossil fuels of less than 20% and does not consider the use of nuclear energy. “According to our calculations, the cost per kilowatt-hour (kWh) could be maintained at between 5.5 and 6.1 Euro cents,” Bernal said.

The study showed wind parks already provided around 10% of Spain’s electricity in 2007 (260 TWh), when their energy generation capacity increased by 33.2%, going from 11.63 GW in January to 15.5 GW by December that year. This growth trend has held steady until the present day, in terms of the megawatts produced and in generation of employment.

The growth in wind power also means a growth in jobs. In 2008, wind energy provided around 104,000 jobs in the European Union, according to a report by Maria Isabel Blanco, from UAH in Madrid, and Glória Rodrigues, from EWEA. “This is an increase of 226% in comparison to 2003.”

The study shows generation of this energy provides direct employment for 38,000 people in Germany, 20,500 in Spain, and 17,000 in Denmark, the three major producing countries in the EU. Manufacturers of turbines and their components account for the largest number of jobs created.

The report, based on a survey carried out among the leading companies in the sector, shows a new market linked to wind energy is rising in Europe, with France, Italy, Ireland, and Portugal also playing an active role. However, despite these dynamic developments, there is “a lack of specialists, project managers, engineers, and operation and maintenance experts” for the wind farms.

For related information, go to www.isa.org/environment.