Wind Energy Becomes Spain’s Leading Electricity Source in March

In March, the solar power accounted for 2.6% and 17.3% hydro. Along with wind turbines, renewable energy produced 41%, more than double that of nuclear energy. Spain exports electricity to France, so Spain do not need the French nuclear power stations, in spite of repeated falsehoods of other pro-nuclear lobby.

In March the wind power technology produced more electricity. This is the first time that wind power produces more than other technologies. Wind farm plants have covered 21% of demand and have set a monthly record, with a generation of 4738 GWh, up 5% over March 2010.

The set of renewable technologies covered in March 42.2% of electricity demand, down from 48.5% in 2010, because the hydro production last year was much higher. In the entire first quarter of 2011, renewable energies have covered 40.5% of demand, slightly less than the same period of 2010, when they reached 44%.

In addition, in March 57.9% of electricity is generated with technologies that do not emit CO2. The electricity demand in March has grown by 0.1% over the same month last year, reaching 22,799 GWh. For its part, the gross demand, which does not take into account the effects of seasonal and working temperatures have risen by 0.2% compared to March 2010.

In the entire first quarter the electricity demand was 67,774 GWh, 1.1% higher than last year. Gross electricity consumption in the first three months of the year has decreased by 0.5% over the same period of 2010. "This milestone reached shows such as wind energy, in addition to being indigenous, clean and increasingly competitive, it is a reality capable of supplying thirteen million Spanish households," emphasized the president of the AEE, José Donoso .

AEE said the growth in wind power was "the main reason why 2010 was the first year in which Spain was a (net) exporter of electricity along with France." Spain was the fourth largest producer of wind energy in 2009 due to the government’s policy of supporting the sector in recent years.

Electric vehicles with lithium batteries do not emit CO2 or damage the environment if the electricity comes from renewable sources like wind energy, solar photovoltaic and solar thermal. Wind turbines can supply the electricity to electric cars in the future will also serve to store and regulate the electricity intermittent of wind energy sector.

By José Santamarta, www.evwind.com/