Spain Approves Installation Of Offshore Wind Farms
Spain, a leading producer of land-based wind energy, has some 4,000 kilometers (2,500 miles) of coastline which draw millions of sun seekers each year, helping to make it the world's second most visited nation after France. While more expensive than land-based wind farms, offshore wind parks can take advantage of stronger, steadier coastal breezes. But critics fear offshore wind parks will blot the landscape and hurt fishing. To allay these concerns the government said offshore wind farm projects will need clearance from the environment ministry.
The government will also identify the best places where the parks, which will be required to have a minimum size of at least 50 megawatts, can be set up and interested firms will then be allowed to reserve the area.
Spain, which along with Germany and Denmark, is among the three biggest producers of wind power in the 27-nation EU, plans to triple the amount of energy it derives from renewable sources by 2020.
The Netherlands opened its first major offshore wind farm earlier this year and several similar projects are in the works for Britain, Germany and the United States.
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Summerland solar power project will provide electricity
summerside solar - A proposed solar energy project, to be constructed on municipally-owned property on Cartwright Mountain, will allow Summerland Power to produce some of its own electricity.
On Monday evening, municipal staff described the Solar+Storage project.
The project will include around 3,200 solar panels and storage batteries, giving Summerland Power the ability to generate 1,200 megawatts of electrical power.
This is the amount of energy used by 100 homes over the course of a year.
The solar panels have an estimated life expectancy of 35 years, while the batteries have a life expectancy of 20 years.
“It’s a really big step for a small…
