A study concludes that Spain aspires to become “a European benchmark in offshore wind” due to its experience in renewables
MADRID, 23 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The installation on the Spanish coast of 14 gigawatts (GW) of offshore wind power would reveal a higher rate of growth in Spanish ports, which could see port traffic increase by more than one million tons.
This is clear from an analysis carried out by OIM, the Consulting division of Ocean Capital Partners, an international firm based in Madrid specialized in the port sector, according to market needs.
Likewise, only the installation of 1 GW of offshore wind power up to 2030 on the Spanish coasts would mean the movement of an additional 72,092 tons in Spanish ports.
In addition, it would open the door to attracting capital for investment, both public and private, in newly built infrastructures and also for remodeling and renovating existing ones.
The Government’s roadmap for ports contemplates undertaking an assessment of the needs of port facilities, in which between 500 and 1,000 million euros should be used to cover the new logistical needs, according to calculations by the Ministry for Ecological Transition.
One of the advantages is that offshore wind energy will also serve to provide electricity to ports, all at a key moment in the implementation of electrification with OPS technology (connection of the ship docked in a port to a general electricity grid) in the Spanish grid.
In fact, from now to 2030, the ports of the European Union will be obliged to have the necessary infrastructure installed in their docks so that the vessels can connect to the electricity grid.
The analysis concludes that Spain aspires to become “a European benchmark in offshore wind energy”, given its experience in renewables, but also thanks to the technological progress that the recent introduction of floating structures entails.
Forecasts suggest that 12 GW of wind energy (offshore and onshore) will be developed in Spain until 2027, according to WindEurope calculations, a figure that would mean a 12% contribution to all installed power in the European Union.
The economic impact of this, according to data from the Wind Energy Association (AEE), would be 6,116 million euros of direct contribution to GDP in a scenario in which 75% of the activities take place in Spain.
Additionally, another 1,860 million euros would be added related to areas such as operation and maintenance or construction of ships, so the contribution of the development of offshore wind would mean 9,581 million euros.
In any case, the presence of facilities at the service of offshore wind farms in the Spanish port infrastructure covers multiple challenges, such as navigability, maneuverability, drafts and access channels; the free surface available on land; the limitation in height of the buildings or the bearing capacity of the pavements; the machinery and equipment for loading and moving the elements; handling and stowage of components; or finding financing models and seeking state and European aid.
