Spanish wind power capacity rises 44 pct in 2002
Date: 04-Feb-03
Country: SPAIN
The Association of Renewable Energy Producers said Spain added 1,493 MW of installed capacity last year which took its overall capacity to second in ranking to Germany's 12,001 MW, ahead of the United States with 2,685 MW of capacity.
The total of 4,830 MW represented less than eight percent of Spain's total capacity of 62,034 MW, according to the industry group UNESA.
The Spanish government aims to increase wind power capacity to 13,000 MW by 2011 as part of its plan to meet Kyoto protocol goals for reducing greenhouse gases believed to be caused by burning fossil fuels.
The northwest region of Galicia - in the path of gusts from the north Atlantic - led Spain with 341.5 MW of capacity, followed by the central region of Castille-Leon with 323.85, the northern region of Aragon with 269 MW and central Castille-La Mancha with 241.5 MW.
Energy sector sources warned recently that the Spanish government decision to reduce price guarantees for wind power could affect growth of the industry in years to come.