Spanish wind industry calls for visibility after auction wins

In Spain's renewable energy auction this week wind projects won 1,128 MW after securing almost 3 GW in the previous auction in May.

This means the Spanish wind sector will need to install more than 4.6 GW awarded in the three tenders in 2017 and last year by 2020. According to estimates by the Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE) the installation of these projects will represent an investment of over EUR 4.5 billion (USD 5.3bn) and create 25,000 to 30,000 jobs during construction.

While saying that the results of the auctions highlight the role of the technology in meeting 2020 European targets, the association called for energy planning for the coming years, including a calendar of tenders to provide the renewables sector with visibility beyond 2020.

AEE also called on the government to maintain incentives for the country's existing wind capacity of 23,000 MW by not changing the projects' "reasonable profitability" every six years during their regulatory life. The government can for the first time make use of its power to do so in 2020.

AEE's comments were echoed today by WindEurope. The body's chief policy officer, Pierre Tardieu, said that the projects awarded to wind are a positive signal for the wind industry and the Spanish supply chain, but added that due to a four-year market standstill, the Spanish government is now trying to deploy in three years what should have been installed in seven. WindEurope favours the European Commission's proposal for three-year visibility for renewables auctions and thinks that regular technology-specific auctions are best means of achieving the EU's 2030 climate and energy targets.

(EUR 1 = USD 1.169)

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