The two companies’ industrial plan, valued at €30 million, will drive Cantabria’s technological development with clean energies, and includes an R&D laboratory and up to eight biogas plants that treat livestock and organic waste.
Through Eólica 2000, Iberdrola Renovables and OCYENER are core partners of the only wind farm in operation in Cantabria, the Cañoneras wind farm, whose enlargement to 32 MW is underway.
Through Biocantaber, Iberdrola Renovables, the world’s leading wind power company and Cantabria-based Ocyener have won the contract to build 205 megawatts (MW) in the Cantabria wind farm tender.
The companies will build the Escudo wind farm complex. Scheduled to come on stream in 2014, it will be one of the largest renewable energy facilities in Spain.
Located at the port of the same name, the facility will comprise five wind farms, the La Cruz del Marqués, El Escuchadero, Peñas Gordas, La Matanela and Las Matas wind farms.
They will be situated between the towns of Luena, Campoo de Yuso, San Miguel de Aguayo, Molledo, San Pedro del Romeral, Campoo de Enmedio and Santiurde de Reinosa. The company has been carrying out studies on the development of wind energy projects in the area since 2002.
The aim of Biocantaber’s industrial plan for the wind project, valued at €30 million, is to drive the region’s technological development through clean energies. The project includes construction of an R&D laboratory and up to eight biogas plants that treat livestock and organic waste.
The R&D lab will bring together research into renewable energies and the development of new, environmentally friendly technologies. In conjunction with the University of Cantabria, the lab should produce more knowledge about the treatment of agricultural and livestock waste.
Collaboration with the Cantabria agricultural and livestock sector
The up to eight biogas plants slated to be put into operation will be able to generate renewable power through the use of over 320,000 tonnes of organic waste per year. More than 60% of the region’s farming industry players are cooperating in the project, which was the only one presented in the wind farm tender that was endorsed by Agrocantabria. This cooperative, Spain’s second largest, comprises nearly 3,000 families in Cantabria dedicated to cattle raising. The agreement ensures Biocantaber supply for its biogas projects.
For Agrocantabria, cooperation with Biocantaber should enhance the profitability of its operations and will provide an outlet for livestock waste and waste from other agribusinesses (e.g. cheese producers, slaughterhouses, butter and milk producers). The industrial plan is expected to generate more than 400 jobs in Cantabria.
Biocantaber’s bid in the Cantabria wind farm tender stood out for the development of a technology (biogas from livestock waste) that does not exist in the region at present, encouraging the use of local resources and suppliers.
Through Eólica 2000, Iberdrola Renovables and OCYENER are core partners of the only wind facility in operation in Cantabria, the Cañoneras wind farm, with installed capacity of 18 MW.
This wind farm is currently being enlarged by the installation of a new, special wind turbine, developed by Gamesa, and is expected to have 32 MW of capacity by the end of the year. The project is called Cañoneras I+D.
The Cañoneras wind farm is located at the top of the Tornos port in the town of Soba, between the neighbouring towns of Fresnedo, Rehoyos, Pilas, Sangas, La Revilla, Villar and Santayana.
Iberdrola Renovables also has four small-scale hydroelectric plants in operation in the region, the La Gándara, Las Rozas de Valdearroyo, Guriezo Superior and Guriezo Inferior plants, with approximately 15 MW of combined capacity.
The company’s commitment to Cantabria is also seen in the location there of its first wave energy plant, the pilot plant in Santoña. The aim of this pioneering initiative in Europe is to produce energy from ocean surface waves.
Nearly 11,300 megawatts worldwide
With operations in 23 countries, Iberdrola Renovables is the world leader in wind energy by both installed capacity (with nearly 11,300 MW at the end of the first quarter of 2010) and power output (over 6,812 million kWh).
OCYENER is one of the few wind energy companies in Cantabria and is tied to a local group specialising in the field of renewable energies, the construction of sports infrastructure, water treatment and environmental consulting. The company is heavily involved in RDI, carrying out Spanish as well as international projects in conjunction with other companies and research centres.
