Wind power in Spain is sufficient to provide energy to nearly 30 million homes every day.
Last November a night time record was set of 70% of Spain’s electricity needs being met which followed a January 2015 day time record of 54%.
The European Union target for 2020 is for Spain to attain 20% of all its energy needs, such as electricity, heating, cooling and transport, through renewable energy.
The country has already reached 17.4%.
Spain has little oil, gas or coal, leaving it at the mercy of the market for imported resources. Natural gas and coal use accounts for about 15% each of Spain’s energy sources, with nuclear power responsible for 21%.
The potential of wind as an energy source began to be developed in the 1980s, turning the Pamplona area into what has been called the cradle of renewable energy.
Spanish firm, Acciona, one of the country’s largest renewable energy providers, remains optimistic that wind power will surpass the 70% record.
From its control centre in Pamplona, it monitors minute-by-minute new fewer than 9,500 wind turbines around the globe, including ones in far-away Australia.
The El Vedadillo wind farm, 60 kilometres away from the city, has enabled its nearest village to earn one-third of its yearly budget from the farm.
Falces village mayor, Valentin Garcia, said the people are in favour of wind technology because of the economic benefit it brings as well as the fact they are helping to produce cleaner energy.
This has not necessarily translated into cheaper electricity prices in Spain, with some analysts suggesting prices have rocketed in the last decade. Although wind power is inexpensive but unpredictable, costlier backup, such as nuclear, is still needed.
Globally there was a 17% increase in wind power by the end of last year, with wind industries present in more than 80 countries.
Spain was the world’s fifth largest producer after China, the US, Germany and India.
In sixth place was the UK, followed by Canada and France.
