March 13, 2009

Brief Wind Bursts Propel Spain to 40% Wind Power Generation

Bookmark and Share Email this story Print this post Add your comments

The duration was short, but the effects were real. Especially strong winds blew hard enough in Spain to allow wind power to generate 40 percent of the electricity needed to run the nation.

High winds blew through northwest Spain in early March, generating 11,180 MW in that region alone.

On average, Spain derives about 11.5 percent of its overall energy from wind turbines, according to this story.

When the high winds came through, the turbines were spinning at 69% of their maximum theoretical potential.

By 2010 Spain has set a goal of obtaining 30 percent of its electricity from renewable resources.

At 16,000 MW, Spain produces the third-most wind power in the world, behind the United States (25,000 MW) and Germany (24,000 MW).

With the lagging economy, some economists predict U.S. wind turbine additions to fall behind.

Bookmark and Share Email this story Print this post Add your comments

Advertisers

Join the Discussion

Get EL Daily in your inbox, subscribe to free newsletter

Recent Daily News [ see all ]

  • 11/06/2009
  • 11/05/2009
  • 11/04/2009

Industry Voices [ see all ]

Greening the Automotive Supply Chain

Greening the Automotive Supply Chain

A Roadmap for a Renewable Energy Partnership

A Roadmap for a Renewable Energy Partnership

Forest Carbon Core to Climate Change Deal

Forest Carbon Core to Climate Change Deal

ARPA-E Deserves Support

ARPA-E Deserves Support

VCS and CarbonFix Tops in Review of Forestry Carbon Standards

VCS and CarbonFix Tops in Review of Forestry Carbon Standards