These figures are satisfactory for the wind energy industry but in contrast with the Wind Power Observatory estimates for 2010, which reckons that this year no more than 1,000 MW will be installed, representing 60% less power.
AEE highlights that the wind power industry has been affected by the creation of the Register of Pre Allocation in the second half of 2009 due to the lack of orders, which resulted in the loss of 5,000 direct jobs and other indirect ones, but it will be in the development field during 2010, when the statistics will reflect the effects of the Register.
Generation: wind energy is already the third technology in the electric system
Last year also brought good news regarding power generation because wind energy was placed as the third technology in the Spanish power system having reached a production of 36,188 GWh, a figure only over passed by thermal combined cycle gas and nuclear, according to Red Eléctrica de España (the Spanish Electric System´s Operator). Wind energy has beaten coal´s annual figure for the first time. In the whole year, wind energy has covered 14.39% of demand compared with 11.5% in 2008.
In 2009, wind energy reached several milestones in its contribution to the demand:
• Demand: December 30, wind energy covered 54.1% at 03h50.
• Daily electricity demand: November 8, wind energy accounted for 44.9%
• Simultaneous power: November 8 at 14h30 11,620 MW of instantaneous power in operation were generated
• Wind production per hour: November 8 with 11,429 MW / h
• Daily wind production: November 8 with 251,543 MW / h
Regarding installed power, wind power, with 19,149 MW is consolidated in the second position, significantly outpacing Hydraulics, third in the ranking with 16,658 MW, just like the previous year. Combined cycle power plants (gas thermals) add up to 26,146 MW.
Castilla y León takes the regions´ lead
By regions, Castilla y León, with an accumulated total of 3,882.72 MW has seized the lead from Castilla-La Mancha, which is second with 3,699.61 MW, followed by Galicia with 3,231.81 (only 91.05 MW installed in 2009).
However, it is especially remarkable Andalusia’s growth with 1,077.46 MW adding up a total of 2,840.07 MW, a figure that confirms its fourth place in the ranking. In fact, in percentage terms Andalusia´s increase is also the largest with a 61.1% growth, followed by Valencia with a 41.6% (289.75 MW in 2009) and Catalonia with a 25.1 % (105.10 MW in 2009).
The world also bets on wind Energy: 31% increase
New statistics published by the Global Wind Energy Council GWEC show that wind energy has an excellent health throughout the world as wind power grew by 31% during 2009, adding 37,500 MW to the facilities total and reaching 157,900 MW.
China was the market with the largest growth in 2009, doubling its capacity of wind power generation, up to 25,100 MW. Meanwhile, the U.S. has installed around 10,000 MW of wind power in 2009, increasing the country’s installed capacity by 39%, up to 35,000 MW.
Regarding Europe, EWEA (European Wind Energy Association) has highlighted that in 2009 and for the second consecutive year, it has been installed more wind power than any other technology in the EU. The accumulated wind power in the EU amounts to 74,767 MW. The countries with the highest percentage of new installed capacity in 2009 are Spain, followed by Germany, Italy, France and the UK.
A more open market
Both, the ranking by wind farm owners and manufacturers (see next page) shows an opening of the market thanks to the emergence of new agents and a further growth of those who had a small share it in until now.
Developers: Iberdrola leads, Acciona the biggest increase
The four companies that led the development of wind farms in 2008 (Iberdrola Renewables, Acciona Energy, Neo Energy and EUFER) are still leading the development in 2009. Acciona has been the developer that has grown the most with 359 MW, followed by Iberdrola with 341 MW. In addition, Acciona managed to strengthen its second place thanks to the addition of 948.78 MW with the acquisition of assets already in operation in 2008.
Neo Energy (291 MW), EUFER (247 MW) and EYRA (246 MW) comfortably exceed the 200 MW installed capacity in 2009. In regards to the accumulated power, six companies exceed 500 MW installed: Iberdrola Renewables, Acciona Energy, Neo Energy, EUFER, EyRA and ECYR.
Manufacturers: Gamesa leads; Vestas and Acciona grow
Regarding the distribution of the wind turbines increase by manufacturers, Gamesa continues to lead the rankings with 845.15 MW installed in 2009, 34,36% of the new installed capacity and bears its brand on 47.34% of the accumulated power at 31 December 2009, a percentage that increases, if we add the 6.63% from its subsidiary MADE.
Vestas maintains its second position, but it installed in 2009 more than twice the amount of wind turbines than the ones installed in 2008. On the other hand, Acciona also grows becoming the third in accumulated power, with 1455.15 MW. It is also noticeable the growth of Enercon, Suzlon (both manufactured nearly 9% of the installed power in 2009) and Siemens (4.8% of the new power of 2009), manufacturers that had a minimal presence in Spain until now.
A profitable energy for Spain
The Spanish Wind Energy Association presented in November 2009 the update of the Macroeconomic Study of the Impact of the Wind Energy sector in Spain, a study (2008 data) carried out by the consultancy Deloitte, which offered figures even more positive than the previous 2008 study (with 2007 data).
This analysis evaluates quantitatively and qualitatively the benefits of generating electricity from wind from different perspectives: macroeconomic, social, environmental … Once the data was collected, it showed that, despite the feared effects of the international financial crisis, wind power continued to grow in 2008 with an improvement in the number of jobs created, in its contribution (direct and indirect) to the Gross Domestic Product -GDP- , the figures on exports and investments in R & D. According to AEE´s president, Jose Donoso, "non-quantifiable benefits must be added to these data, i.e. the installation of wind farms brings better standards of life to rural areas”.
But, the regulatory changes in 2009, with the coming into force of the RD 6 / 2009, have affected these figures (employment, for example), damage that will probably be reflected in the next sector analysis.
Main figures
• The wind brought 3,803 M€ to the GDP in 2008 (0.39% of the GDP), 12.7% more than in 2007
– The direct contribution to the GDP was 2,311 M€ (0.24% of the GDP)
– And it had a dragging effect of 1,492.4 M€ (0.15% of GDP)
• Exports increased to 2,900 M€, 350 M€ more than in 2007
• Tax contributions of 244 M€ compared to 189 M€ last year
• It increased its efforts in R & D: 189.5 M€ compared to 174 M€
• It created another 4,000 new jobs that add up to around 41,000
• It prevented the imports of 7.4 MTEP of fossil fuels compared to 5.7 MTEP last year
• It avoided the emission of 19.1 MT of CO2 compared to 18 MT in 2007
• After all these contributions, wind energy received 1,138 M€ in premium returns
