Spain’s Monthly Wind Energy Tops 6 Terawatt-Hours for First Time

Spain’s monthly wind energy output exceeded 6 terawatt-hours for the first time this month, enough to light most households, the nation’s AEE wind lobby group said.

The milestone was passed yesterday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. local time, the Spanish Wind Energy Association said, citing data from Red Electrica de Espana, the grid operator.

“Since Nov. 1, wind has been the top technology in the electrical system,” the lobby group said in a blog posting. “The last time any technology exceeded 6 terawatt-hours of monthly generation was in 2010, when it was combined-cycle gas turbines.”

The country is ranked fourth in the world in terms of installed wind power, after the U.S., Germany and China, according to the industry association.

Wind generation this month totaled 6.214 terawatt-hours as of 9:49 a.m. local time today, representing more than a quarter of Spain’s total power output, according to Red Electrica’s website. That puts it ahead of nuclear and coal-fired electricity, the figures show.

Wind has accounted for more power than any other energy source in the three months ending tomorrow, a first for any quarter, the wind association said.

http://www.evwind.com/2013/01/30/la-eolica-primera-fuente-de-electricidad-en-lo-que-va-de-ano/