Fifteen organizations, including environmental entities, electricity grid operators and the offshore wind energy industry, have created an international coalition to promote the “sustainable” development of offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean and Atlantic waters.
Among other things, this alliance is committed to seeking “innovative solutions” so that the impact that this type of infrastructure can generate on the territory is as minimal as possible.
Last March, the government gave the green light to the map that foresees 19 offshore wind areas on the Spanish coast, including a 250 km2 patch off the Alt and Baix Empordà coast, which has generated opposition in the territory: from town councils to Environmental entities have denounced the alleged visual, tourist, ecological and landscape impact that this type of infrastructure will have and have opened a legal battle to prevent it.
This coalition presented yesterday, named Med OCEaN, is committed to “safeguarding the health of marine ecosystems and avoiding the loss of biodiversity” by providing studies and knowledge and modifying everything that seriously affects the environment.
Among the organizations that have joined this alliance are environmental entities such as Seo Birdlife and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The regional manager of WWF's Sustainable Blue Economy, Mauro Randone, noted yesterday that the increase in marine renewable energy in the Mediterranean “is essential for climate neutrality.”
Even so, he recalled that marine and coastal ecosystems and biodiversity must be protected” and pointed out this grouping of entities from different sectors under the same umbrella. “It's a great opportunity for high seas conservation,” he said.
This international conglomerate in favor of offshore wind energy also includes the company Blue Float Energy, promoter of the Tramuntana park, which contemplates the installation of 33 floating offshore wind turbines 24 kilometers from the Gulf of Roses.
With a capacity of 500 MW, equivalent to 45% of the annual electricity consumption of the entire province of Girona, it was the first initiative that came to light to be implemented off the coast of Girona. Up to six companies have applied to install wind turbines in this area.
The long road that must lead to seeing the first mill off the Empordà coast is slowed down while waiting for the new government. It will not foreseeably be until next year when the first necessary procedures could be completed.
The government has not yet established the legislative framework or the technical criteria that the auction will have. In the best case scenario, the first commercial wind turbine would not be seen before 2030.
In parallel, environmental entities opposed to the installation of windmills on the Empordà coast presented a contentious administrative appeal against the government's roadmap on offshore wind energy that the Supreme Court has admitted for processing.
