'Spain is leader in floating solutions': Madrid approves 3GW target by 2030
Cabinet's floating ambition part of 2030 roadmap for offshore wind and marine energy that includes 60MW goal for wave and tidal
Spain’s cabinet has approved a roadmap for offshore wind and marine energy that sets a target to build 1-3GW of floating wind off its coasts by 2030.
The ecological transition ministry said the move will allow Spain to become the European benchmark for these technologies, adding that the floating wind target represents 40% of the total European goal.
The roadmap also includes a target for 60MW of other marine energies, such as wave or tidal power.
A leader in onshore wind, Spain has had to watch northern European nations press ahead with huge fixed-foundation offshore wind builds that would be impossible in the deep waters off its coasts.
“Spain is a wind energy power, both in equipment manufacturing. It has 90% of the value chain... but offshore wind has barely developed due to the high depth of territorial waters for projects with fixed foundations, unviable from a depth of 50 metres,” the ministry said in a release. “However, Spain is a leader in floating solutions for wind turbines.”
Out of 27 floating wind solutions globally, seven are Spanish, the ministry said. Among those are the Canary Islands Ocean Platform (PLOCAN) and the Platform for Marine Energy of the Biscay (BiMEP).
The government said it will spend at least €200m ($226m) to help R&D in the sector by 2023, and evaluate the needs for upgrades to Spain’s port infrastructure, which could cost up to €1bn.
The roadmap still needs to be approved in Spain's parliament.
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