Wind energy has been one of the main challenges for sustainable energy development in Catalonia. However, progress in this way of producing energy has been quite uneven due to various administrative, regulatory and economic factors.
In this article, we will explore the reasons for this pause, the current situation and the hopes for the future regarding renewable energy in the region.
The wind power shutdown in Catalonia: Four years of inactivity
Since the inauguration of the Serra de Vilobí II wind farm in January 2013 in the Les Garrigues region, Catalonia has not seen the start-up of another megawatt of wind power. Projects that have attempted to harness wind energy have faced numerous obstacles, in many cases of an administrative nature.
In particular, the Gas Natural Fenosa project in Terra Alta, which was very advanced at the time, has been delayed for several years and has not yet been made public.
The National Plan for the Energy Transition of Catalonia sets ambitious goals: by 2050, 100% of final energy in the region is projected to be of renewable origin, while by 2030 at least 50% of electricity is expected to come from clean sources. But with the current pace of project implementation, meeting these deadlines seems increasingly complicated.
Regulatory and administrative problems
A major obstacle to wind energy development in Catalonia has been the rigidity of the regulatory framework. On the one hand, business associations such as APPA and EolicCat are demanding the modification of the wind map of Catalonia, a document that delimits the areas of the territory where wind power can be used. Some areas, considered incompatible, could be revised to promote the development of new wind farms.
Beyond territorial regulations, another problem is the allocation system. Currently, wind projects can only be promoted through auctions that award licenses to the highest bidder, limiting viability for many developers. According to the Wind Energy Business Association, it would be more beneficial to allow the "free promotion" of projects. One of the most notable examples of the impact of this system is the development of Priority Development Zones (ZDP), created by the Government more than a decade ago in order to encourage the implementation of wind farms.
Seven zones had been planned, with a total capacity of 769 MW and an investment of 1.200 billion euros. However, only the Terra Alta ZDP, awarded to Gas Natural Renovables and Alstom Wind, is still in place, although it is several years behind schedule.
Future projects and new hopes
Despite these challenges, it seems that 2023 and 2024 could mark a turning point. Naturgy has launched the first wind farms after ten years of inactivity in the region. The “Els Barrancs” and “Punta Redona” wind farms have a combined capacity of 50 MW and have involved an investment of more than 58 million euros. These parks have the capacity to supply the annual consumption of more than 44.000 homes. In parallel, proposals for the installation of new parks in Catalonia are also being evaluated, some of them in Terra Alta and in other regions such as Anoia.
Projects such as the Tramuntana wind farm, promoted by the company Sener, or the Solans wind farm, developed by Eolia in the region of La Granadella, have significant capacities and multi-million euro investments. Wind power development in Catalonia is also going through a key stage of repowering. This consists of modernising old wind turbines, installed more than 25 years ago, replacing them with more modern and efficient models. This process could revitalise many of the first wind farms that are already beginning to suffer from obsolescence.
New regulations and the energy future of Catalonia
For these projects to prosper, an appropriate regulatory framework is necessary. Decree Law 16/2019 has introduced changes to the regulations, facilitating the installation of solar panels and reducing the limitations for renewable projects on non-urbanizable land. This regulation, together with the elimination of certain barriers to obtaining permits, has allowed Catalonia to rethink its strategy.
In 2023, the Government approved around fifty new renewable energy installations totalling more than 1.000 MW. While this seems to be a step forward, business associations such as Unefcat consider that it is still insufficient to meet the target of 12.000 MW of renewable energy by 2030. According to current estimates, the installed capacity by that date could fall below 4.000 MW.
The role of photovoltaics
Catalonia does not rely solely on wind energy to meet its energy targets. There has also been a considerable increase in photovoltaic self-consumption installations. In the last two years, more than 91.000 rooftop solar plants have been installed, a figure that is generating an energy capacity comparable to that of a small nuclear power plant. According to the Plan d'Energia i Canvi Climàtic 2012-2020, the growth of rooftop photovoltaics is key to decentralising the energy model. And with the support of domestic batteries and the push for electric vehicles, the aspiration to achieve a 100% renewable system by 2050 is taking shape.
After years of paralysis, the renewable energy sector in Catalonia seems to be finding new paths. However, long-term success will depend not only on investment, but also on appropriate regulation and social consensus that allows the deployment of new infrastructures. With this, Catalonia will be able to align itself with its medium- and long-term energy objectives.