CTO Assessment - European Commission

MOLINS DE CAMPOS
Mills of the past
winds of the future
Contact: Pascual Tortella • Adjuntament de Campos
Plaza Mayor, 1 • 07630 Campos • Majorca • Tel.: +34 629 43 94 91
E-mail: molinsdecampos@terra.es
The project of Campos is an excellent alliance
between the heritage from the past
and the new technologies of the future, a
multidisciplinary project joining heritage
restoration, landscape maintenance, windenergy
production, search of new tourist
products integrated and adapted to the environment
and the recovery of local traditional
productions.
The characteristics of the Balearic Islands’
agricultural development have partly been
determined by the archipelago’s climatic
conditions. Windmills were built to overcome
irrigation problems due to a lack of
surface rivers and streams. The type of
windmill found in Majorca is based on designs
that date back to Alexandrian times
and the first windmills reached Europe
from Persia in the 11 th century.
During the middle Age, the number of windmills
grew. Most were flourmills, but there
were also watermills. All had rotors with
sails of fabric. Windmills were not really
put to use to extract water from the ground
until 1845, with the work of the Dutch
engineer Paul Bouvy and the plan to drain
the plain known as the PIA de Sant Jordi.
From then on, there was a spectacular increase
in number. There are well over two
thousand windmills on the island of Majorca.
Main aims
The “Molins de Campos” project was created
as a result it is the result of a partnership
between the RES and the heritage.
For this reason, the project does not only
involve the windmills’ structural restoration
‘ but it also has a global environmental
objective: to convert the windmill into a
generator of wind energy - a clean, renewable
source of energy - whilst also carrying
out a series of parallel activities within the
immediate vicinity, focused on promoting
the use of windmills and their adjacent lands
in ways which will lead to the generation of
income and a number of different economic
activities, within the framework of the sustainable
use of natural resources and the
protection of the environment.
The global idea of the project seeks not
only the architectural restoration and obtaining
wind power, but also to make the
mills turn into reference elements for tourist
use, as centres for craftsmanship and
valorisation of the rural products of the
area.
Overall evaluation
Having carried out the experimental study,
in the light of the excellent results achieved,
it was necessary to continue with the initial
objectives. With this in mind, given the
high cost involved in the restoration of the
windmills, it was decided to start by concentrating
on a first stage of the “Molins
de Campos” project, which would focus on
a group of about one hundred windmills.
The mills recovering process especially
cared after energy aspects, that meant a
far from negligible technological challenge,
since the project’s engineering had to resolve
aspects such as adapting traditional
rotors to present-day generators, within
investment conditions that allow investment
recovering in an acceptable time space.
The restoration of the cultural heritage
that the windmills represent and the
recovologically-friendly produce).
The initiative
There are four main aims behind the
project, which is planned to focus on a figure
of about 100 windmills:
The restoration of the windmills, in their
capacity as a part of historical heritage,
thus reducing and indeed improving the
negative visual, aesthetic and environmental
impact of the windmills that presently
exist in the area.
The conversion of the windmill, by introducing
technology that will take advantage
of the island’s wind energy, and
the introduction of a new innovation, the
small-scale production of electricity for
use, energy-saving and, indeed, to replace
other sources of energy.
The creation of a sustainable environment
in association with the windmill,
using the resources of the surrounding
area. Designing and creating the most
suitable type of outdoor gardens and
guaranteeing, above all, Majorca’s
biodiversity by the use of native island
species of plants.
Parallel activities, which help to guarantee
the feasibility of the project as a
whole. Introducing the concept of sustainability
to rural farms and to the development
of tourism and cultural attractions.
Results
More than 100 windmills have been restored
until the present. Currently it is being
widening the initiative with the project
of a visitors center (RES and Heritage).
Enabling factors
Support of Ministry of Environment.
Good perception by the creation of a new
tourist product.
Reinforcement factor of the local economy
and the rural productions.
Challenges
Administrative processes for connection to
net and need to unify the maintenance services.
CTO - Showcase
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