International alliance to promote offshore wind in the Mediterranean

Some fifteen organizations, including environmental organizations, electricity grid operators and the offshore wind energy industry, have created an international coalition to promote the "sustainable" development of offshore wind farms in the Mediterranean and Atlantic waters.

Among other things, this alliance is committed to seeking "innovative solutions" to minimize the impact that this type of infrastructure can have on the territory.

Objective

The coalition is committed to "safeguarding the health of marine ecosystems and preventing the loss of biodiversity".

Last March, the government gave the green light to the map that foresees 19 offshore wind areas on the Spanish coast, including a 250 km2 block off the coast of Alt and Baix Empordà, which has generated opposition in the territory: from municipalities to environmental organizations have denounced the alleged visual, tourist, ecological and landscape impact that this type of infrastructure will have and have opened the legal battle to prevent it.

This coalition presented yesterday, named Med OCEaN, is committed to "safeguard the health of marine ecosystems and prevent the loss of biodiversity" by providing studies and knowledge and modifying everything that would seriously affect the environment.

Six projects for the Empordà

Off the coast of the Empordà there are six candidate projects for the implementation of wind turbines.

Among the organizations that have joined this alliance are environmental organizations such as Seo Birdlife and World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The regional manager of Sustainable Blue Economy of WWF, Mauro Randone, said yesterday that the increase of marine renewable energy in the Mediterranean "is essential for climate neutrality".

Even so, he recalled that marine, coastal ecosystems and biodiversity must be protected" and pointed to this grouping of entities from different sectors under the same umbrella. "It is a great opportunity for conservation on the high seas," he said.

This international conglomerate in favor of offshore wind energy also includes the company Blue Float Energy, promoter of the Tramuntana wind farm, which contemplates the installation of 33 floating offshore wind turbines 24 kilometers off the Gulf of Roses.

With a capacity of 500 MW, equivalent to 45% of the annual electricity consumption of the entire province of Girona, it was the first initiative to come to light to be implemented off the coast of Girona. Up to six companies have applied to install wind turbines in this area.

The long road that should lead to see the first windmill off the coast of the Empordà is slowed down waiting for the new government. It will probably not be until next year when the first necessary steps could be taken.

The government has not yet established the legislative framework or the technical criteria for the auction. In the best case scenario, the first commercial wind turbine would not be seen before 2030.

Procedures stuck waiting for the new government to take office

The government has not yet set the legislative framework or the technical criteria for the auction.

At the same time, environmental organizations opposed to the installation of windmills on the Empordà coast filed an administrative appeal against the government's roadmap for offshore wind energy, which the Supreme Court has admitted for processing.