CTO Assessment - European Commission

NAVARRE
Renewable Energy Plan
Contact: Ms Ana Olaiz • Department of Industry, Technology, Commerce and Labour
Navarre Regional Government • Parque Tomás Caballero, 1 - 6th floor.
31005 Pamplona • Spain •Tel: 00 34 848 42 35 95 . Fax: 00 34 848 42 35 90
Main aims and motivations
Navarre, with a population of just over
578,200 covering 10,391 Km 2 , is a world
benchmark for renewable energies. Thanks
to the 1995-2000 Energy Plan promoted
by the Government Navarre to foster energy
conservation and efficiency, favour the
best use of RES and extend the energy
transport and distribution network, by
2001 Navarre was already the second
Spanish region in the generation of electricity
from the wind. In 2002, 60% of the
electricity consumed in Navarre came from
renewables.
The Navarra Energy Plan Targets for
2005 foresees yet again a doubling of RES
electricity capacity, including the doubling
of wind installed capacity and expansion
in solar photovoltaic and solar thermal
generation – aiming towards a 97% green
electricity coverage by 2005.
The initiative
The development of renewable energies in
Navarre has meant that major initiatives
could be carried out.
In 2004 the biodiesel manufacture plant
located in Carraposo will enter service,
with a production capacity of 35,000
tonnes/year.
An electricity generation plant from the
combustion of waste cereal (straw) with
a capacity of 160,000 tonnes/year. Located
at Sangüesa, it has an installed
capacity of 25MW and produces 200
GWh/year.
Wind energy has also generated an active
industrial and productive sector in
the region, one with a bright future and
a clear export-led orientation. The need
to encourage the creation of a windpower-led
industrial sector in Navarre
was envisaged from the outset. Industrial
plants to produce this type of equipment
cover turbine assembly, the manufacture
of blades, turbines, towers and
control equipment and a wide range of
wind turbine components.
At the end of 2001 the largest photovoltaic
solar energy plant in Spain, located
in Tudela, entered in service with
1.2 MW capacity.
Overall Evaluation
Against a forecast capacity for 2002 of
341 MW from a range of renewable
energy sources, 590 MW have already
been installed, of which 550 MW correspond
to the wind power sector.
There are 107 hydropower plants in
operation, representing 15% of the region’s
energy consumption in 2000.
Wind power-based installed capacity in
2000 produced the equivalent of 40%
of the total electricity consumption of
Navarre over a full year.
Installed capacity in renewables in 2000
was 773 MW, generating 55% of the
electricity consumed in Navarre.
In 2000 alone the emission of
1,798,000 tonnes of CO 2
to the atmosphere
was avoided, double the figure
forecast in the Energy Plan.
Investments of over 382 million euros
have been made in renewable energy production
facilities.
More than 30,000 schoolchildren have
visited the travelling exhibition on energy
saving and renewable energy in the
main towns and cities of Navarre.
Enabling factors
Wide-ranging acceptance of wind farms
by the community.
The existence of private developers that
have made a strong commitment and
large investments particularly in the
launch stage, when the situation and
technological costs represent considerable
risks.
Care for the Environment
Care for the environment is something that
is given special attention in the development
of wind power in Navarre. Wind farms
are subject to environmental studies and
the Government of Navarre applies
changes to their design before they are
authorised. Certain sites have been ruled
out as a result of their impact on the environment,
and the location of some turbines
has been modified in projects that have
received approval. Navarre has some of
the most advanced legislation in Spain on
the environmental monitoring of wind
farms. The minimum distance between turbines
in the most recently authorised facilities
is 200 metres, to ensure that there
is space for birds to pass. Each wind farm
has its own environmental monitoring programme
to assess the impact of the turbines
on bird life. Experiments have also
been carried out in the form of turbine shutdowns
at times when there are a large number
of birds, to facilitate their flight paths.
Replication and Partnership
In 2003 alone the region received visits
from representatives of the Environment
Ministries of the Czech Republic, Hungary
and Slovenia and different regions in Ireland,
Rumania, Slovakia, Italy and Belgium,
as well as the Energy Ministry of
Tasmania (Australia).
Navarre participates in a renewable energy
project in Tunisia, in collaboration with the
Spanish Agency for International Cooperation
under the Azahar programme. The Community
provides technical and legal assistance for
the installation of wind turbines. The partnership
programme contributes to the design of
an energy model in which guaranteed supplies,
at competitive prices, is compatible with care
for the environment. This model involves technology
transfer in clean energy sources from
developed to developing countries, to increase
their economic development and the application
of measures to reduce polluting emissions.
60 CTO - Showcase