Spain: The Winds Spin More Renewable Power Though Weaker Elsewhere

Wind power generation in Spain is projected to rise 10% this year, the national grid operator said on Thursday, whilst lower wind speeds have weighed on renewable generation in its northern neighbours. Making electricity from lofty turbines planted on hillsides or off blustery coastlines is key to global plans to shift away from fossil fuels that emit planet-warming carbon.

Wind is set to account for 23.3% of overall Spanish power production in 2021, grid firm Red Electrica de Espana (REE) calculated, just over one percentage point more than the previous year, overtaking nuclear which will provide 20.6%. By contrast, wind farm operators in northern and central Europe have complained of lighter winds this year.

Germany's RWE (RWEG.DE) blamed the lower volumes for a 22% decline in first-half core profits and Denmark's Orsted (ORSTED.CO) said last month the conditions had cost it 1.7 billion Danish crowns ($259 million) compared to a normal year. 

In the European Union as a whole, 14.3% of power generation has been driven by wind so far this year, according to Germany's Fraunhofer research institute. Denmark and Germany have seen wind's contribution to their power systems fall almost five and 10 percentage points respectively, the institute says.

Gas remains key to powering Spain, with combined cycle plants set to make 17.6% of this year's total and cogeneration - a type of technology that sometimes employs gas - another 10%.