| A Closer Look at Spain’s Success: A renewable energy source for the US |
|
Support for renewable energy technology in Spain began in 1980 for various reasons. The country was heavily dependent on foreign oil, and its growing economy was in need of new sources for clean energy. Since then, a variety of tactics have been used to boost alternative energy sources, particularly feed-in tariffs, which have contributed to the country’s renewable energy success.
In Spain, a market option has been added to a fixed tariff scheme, allowing generators to make more or less money than a fixed tariff depending on the momentary demand for electricity and its market price. The results of this policy have been positive in driving growth and innovation in wind and solar energy. Living on wind One of the challenges of integrating large proportions of wind power into the national grid system is wind forecasting. Wind farm operators in Spain have become leaders in wind forecasting because they must provide accurate predictions to the grid or they’ll risk paying penalties. Other key features of the system include real-time control centers that make communication easier by allowing operators to manage wind farms that may be located worldwide through fiber-optic channels and by satellite. Grid interconnections in Spain are among the best in the world, according to Alberto Ceña, director of the Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE). Infrastructures such as the Center for Renewable Energy Research (CENER) and the Wind Turbine Test Laboratory, which opened in Navarra, Spain in September 2008, have provided a great advantage for Spanish turbine and component manufacturers as they allow for thorough and efficient testing of Spanish wind technology. Investments in wind energy have been a key element in the expansion of Spanish companies. Over 8,500 MW have been installed worldwide and Spanish companies are becoming household names. Acciona and Gamesa, two turbine manufacturers, have created jobs in the US through their plants in Iowa and Pennsylvania. Both companies are also expanding aggressively in other geographic areas. Iberdrola Renewables, another Spanish company, is the second largest owner of wind farms in the US, and plans to reach 6,900 MW in operating capacity by 2012 through investing $8 billion over the next two years. Powered by the sun The Solar Platform of Almería (PSA), a world reference R&D center in solar energy, is where all Spanish solar technology is first tested. “In the past, few people wanted to learn about our [solar energy] systems—now everybody wants to,” said Eduardo Zarza, the director of concentrating solar research at the PSA. “Every week we have several companies coming to see our facilities to obtain information because they’re interested in investing in solar thermal plants.” Spanish companies working in CSP, like Acciona, are making this technology readily available in the US. Acciona developed Nevada Solar One (64 MW) in 2007, the first solar plant built in the US since the 1980s, and is currently working on even larger State projects. Abengoa Solar, another Spain-based company, will build a 280 MW Solana power plant in Arizona. Thermal storage through molten salt will be used at this plant to maintain peak power, while permitting electricity production when the sky is overcast or after nightfall. However, the growth of solar energy in Spain is hardly limited to solar thermal. The market for photovoltaics (PV) exploded due to generous government incentives. Solar production is expected to reach 1,800 MW in installed capacity at the end of 2008. This growth has spurred more manufacturing investments. Companies like Isofotón and BP Solar have been joined by others such as Pevafersa, Siliken, Solaria and Atersa, as well as other American and German companies. Many of the Spanish manufacturers are exploring the opportunities offered by the US market. Siliken has already opened a manufacturing plant for solar panels near San Diego, California. Furthermore, Spain has become a world benchmark in Concentration Photovoltaics (CPV) thanks to the Institute for Photovoltaic Systems of Concentration in Puertollano, south of Madrid. The leading companies in the field are building demonstration plants in the Castile-La Mancha region. The goal is to improve the technology efficiency and decrease cost in an effort to speed commercialization. Research centers have been at the core of development in the industry. For example, The Institute for Solar Research, one of the oldest solar centers in the world, has been behind many of the most important initiatives and spin-offs in the country. Its work in intermediate band cells and concentration PV is at the forefront of research in these fields. Recent results include the latter is the development of the first solar simulator for CPV systems which speeds up module testing. Adoption of renewable energy technology will continue to increase globally through Spanish innovation. “We’re facing a grand challenge: consolidating that which we’ve achieved so far, setting the frame work for future development, and creating a sector that makes our country proud,” said Javier Anta, president of the Spanish Photovoltaic Industry Association. José Luis Briceño, a native of Madrid, has lived in Chicago for eight years and currently serves as the director of the Department of Industry and Technology at the Trade Commission of Spain (TCS). He can be reached at jbriceñ This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Acciona | http://www.acciona.com/ Abengoa Solar | www.abengoasolar.com/sites/solar/en Gamesa | www.gamesa.es/en Iberdrola Renewables | http://www.ppmenergy.com/ Nevada Solar One | http://www.nevadasolarone.net/ |