The Director General of Agrobusiness and Energy Incentives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Rural Development, the Environment and Energy of the Regional Government of Extremadura, Juan Cardesa, the Secretary of the Extremadura Special Energies Foundation and the Head of the Department of Subsidiary Companies of GAS NATURAL FENOSA RENOVABLES, Eduardo Buey, and the General Manager of the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, Pedro-A. Fábregas, in Merida today inaugurated the seminar "Wind energy: Assessment and Prospects".

Spain is the fourth country worldwide for installed wind power. In 2011, 16% of electricity generated in our country was produced through this energy, making it the third largest source of electricity generation. After more than 25 years of experience, the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation considers it is a good time to assess the route traveled and the prospects that are opening up for the immediate future.

 

During the conference, the book, La energía eólica was presented, commissioned by the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation from the Head of Offshore Windpower of the National Centre for Renewable Energies (CENER), Félix Avia, in which  windpower is described and assessed from the technological, energy, economic and environmental perspectives as well as anticipating its development options for the immediate future.

 

 

During the conference, different perspectives of those involved in windpower were outlined and debated, from the legal regulation or the connection of electricity through the network to the manufacture and installation of wind turbines, including the study of wind or the management of the wind farms.

The representative of Wholesale Business Regulation of GAS NATURAL FENOSA, Esther García, analysed the prospects for the regulation of the wind energy sector in Spain and other European Union countries. During her presentation, she explained that there is a growing concern about the costs of renewables because of the tariff deficit and its impact on electricity rates. In her view, this circumstance will cause the support mechanisms for these technologies will tend to become more fitting and agile in order to seize and encourage cost reductions. Finally, Esther García said that virtually all countries have renewable targets for 2020 and that renewables will have an important role to play in the energy mix.

 

Also taking part in the seminar was the head of the Renewables Unit of Gas Natural Fenosa Engineering, Consolación Alonso, who began her speech by performing an analysis of wind resources globally and locally as a first, essential step, in the search for and selection of sites. She described the main activities to be undertaken in the execution of the engineering of a wind farm.

 

For his part, the Head of Sales in the Mediterranean Area for Siemens, Pablo Diego Finkielstein, spoke from the perspective of a land based and marine wind turbines manufacturer, and the General Manager of GAS NATURAL FENOSA RENOVABLES, Javier Serrano, presented the vision of the promoter and operator of wind farms. Serrano said that the future of wind power lies in “farms with a high level of resources and which do not pose a significant burden for the whole industry."

 

Furthermore, the expert in the electricity system operation, Alberto Carbajo, explained the advantages and difficulties of the integration of this renewable energy into the electricity system, since, due to its intermittent nature, it requires complementary power with sufficient flexibility to compensate for variations depending on the availability of this renewable primary resource.

 

 

The seminar analysed and studied in detail the current status of wind energy in Extremadura. To this end, the event featured the participation of professionals from the sector such as the President of the Energy Cluster of Extremadura, Antonio Rosa, who conducted a detailed analysis of the situation of the sector in Extremadura and the short and medium term future in the Region.

 

In his turn, the General Manager of Agribusiness and Energy Incentives from the Regional Government of Extremadura, Juan Cardesa, was responsible for analysing the regulation and promotion of wind energy by the Government of Extremadura.
 
The conference, which was closed by the Regional Minister for Agriculture, Rural Development, the Environment and Energy, José Ántonio Echávarri, was attended by over 100 top professionals with proven experience in the sector who offered diverse points of view of the different agents involved.

 

The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation
 
By holding this seminar, the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation continues to develop its activities and the dissemination of significant elements of energy and the environment, to promote environmental protection and the information, training and awareness raising of society in the respect and conservation of the environment.