Spain: Share of Wind Power on the Rise

According to the Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE), installed wind power capacity in Spain reached 27,446 MW last year. Wind energy contributed 21.9 % to electricity consumption in Spain in 2020, making it the second most important technology in the mix. Among renewables, wind ranked 49.7 per cent, ahead of hydropower at 27.7 per cent and photovoltaics at 13.8 per cent. In total, there are now 1,267 wind farms in Spain with 21,431 wind turbines installed.

"2020 was a positive year in which wind energy returned to an annual installation rate of new capacity comparable to that of the sector's best years. At that time, wind energy was steadily expanding on an annual basis. The challenge in this new decade is to achieve an average installation of 2.2 GW per year, sustained over time, to reach the 50.3 GW envisaged in the National Climate Plan. Once the appropriate mechanisms and strategies are established, we will manage to maintain and even strengthen the production chain based in Spain, in addition to meeting the energy targets," says Juan Virgilio Márquez, CEO of the Spanish Wind Energy Association.

"The wind energy sector is a component of our economy with high added value, covering several dimensions: energy, industry, climate, technological innovation, value-added employment, regional development and international presence. With the increase in wind power capacity and greater coverage of electricity demand, we are at a moment of opportunity for the country and its economic recovery. Let's use the full potential of wind energy," said Márquez.