Spain

1.1         Summary

Spain has very good wind conditions in large parts of the peninsula, on the islands and offshore and it has vast areas with very low population, providing ample opportunities for AWE test and commercial operation. AWE deployment on the Canary Islands is already be competitive as it can substitute diesel use. Spain has not only a thriving wind industry with lot of expertise and experience in wind projects but also a highly competitive aviation engineering sector.

1.2         AWE potential

1.2.1          Wind resources

AWE will provide offshore conditions in central and Northern Spain.

1.2.2          Site availability

Spain has large areas of sparsely populated rural areas which to a good extent coincide with good wind resources. Detailed site analysis is required.

1.2.3          Roll-out opportunities

• Canary Islands
• Navarra
• Castilla y León
• Castilla La Mancha
• Aragón
• Galicia
• Maybe: Southern Andalucía.
• Offshore especially on Northern Coast

1.3         Energy policies

1.3.1          Renewable Energy Legislation

AWE is not considered in Spanish legislation and regulation.

There is an individual and collective self-consumption scheme in place that could be potential of interest for AWE, e.g. using an AWE system for an energy community in a rural area. As remuneration for exported electricity has gone up above 20 ct/kWh, this could potentially be an economically viable case.

1.3.2          NECP

No mentioning of AWE in NECP.

1.3.3          R&D / Investment support

Programs exist and could be potentially used for AWE, see also under “agencies”.

1.3.4          Revenue support

There is no special remuneration for AWE. Renewable capacity is in general tendered in auctions. AWE is not foreseen in those. Participation of AWE in those is questionable.

1.4         Key policy stakeholders

1.4.1          Parliamentarians

Parliamentarians have not been contacted yet.

1.4.2          Ministry of Energy

The ministry has not been contacted yet.

1.4.3          Other ministries / agencies

Other ministries (like Ministry of Science and Innovation) have not been contacted yet.

CENER: From Website: The National Renewable Energy Centre of Spain (CENER) develops applied research in renewable energies, and provides technological support to companies and energy institutions in six areas, among them wind.

CENER runs experimental wind farms, and could thus be a partner for developing AWE test sites in Spain.

CDTI: From Website: The Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI) is a Public Business Entity, answering to the Ministry of Science and Innovation, which fosters the technological development and innovation of Spanish companies. It is the entity that channels the funding and support applications for national and international R&D&i projects of Spanish companies. The CDTI thus seeks to contribute to improving the technological level of the Spanish companies.

CDTI is National Contact Point for Horizon Projects. 

CIEMAT: From Website: The CIEMAT (Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas) is a public research body assigned to the Ministry of Science and Innovation under the General Secretariat for Research, focusing on energy and environment and the technologies related to them. It has offices in several different regions of Spain, and its activity is structured around projects which form a bridge between R&D&I and social interest goals.

IDAE: The Spanish Government’s Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy⁹ promotes also renewables. 

https://www.cener.com/en/what-is-cener/

https://www.cener.com/areas-de-investigacion/energia-eolica/infraestructuras-y-recursos-tecnicos/parque-experimental-de- alaiz/disponibilidad-de-posiciones-en-el-parque-experimental-de-alaiz/

https://www.cdti.es/index.asp?MP=6&MS=797&MN=3

https://www.ciemat.es/portal.do?NM=2&IDM=283

1.4.4          Regional / local public administration

1.5         Regulation and permitting

1.5.1          Permitting

So far there is no experience with AWE permitting in Spain.

1.5.2          Airspace regulation

It is assumed that drone regulation will apply for AWE.

AESA: https://www.seguridadaerea.gob.es/en/ambitos/drones

1.6         AWE stakeholders

 1.6.1          AWE OEMs

• someAWE Labs (development of prototype but not a real OEM)
• UC3M (development of prototype but not a real OEM)

1.6.2          IEA Task 48 Participants

• CT Ingenieros
• Siemens Gamesa
• someAWE Labs
• UC3M

1.6.3          Other (potential) stakeholders / clients

www.idae.es/

1.7        Opportunities

1.6.1          Test sites

There is no test site in Spain but activities have started to identify some. In June 2022 various AWEurope members sent Letters of Intent to the Canary Island administration (Sociedad Canaria de Fomento Económico S.A. – PROEXCA).

1.7.2          Commercial sites

No commercial sites yet

1.7.3          Industry and jobs

• Airspace industry
• Drone industry
• Developed renewable energy industry