He Ministry for Ecological Transition has already outlined on the map what applications can be given to the sea and which ones cannot. Specifically, in Catalonia, it has located only 250 square kilometers of optimum space for the development of the offshore wind powerright in front of gulf of rosessome 12 kilometers offshore, as already anticipated. However, to go from the sketch to the real project, it will still be necessary to wait, at least, a few years. At least that is how the different agents involved in the possible installation of a floating wind farm between Roses and L’Escalawhich would take advantage of the ‘tramuntana’.
The difficulty of the matter is that this same piece of sea is described – the ministry itself says – as a important area for biodiversity conservation. Therefore, the great challenge will be to find (if possible) the balance between the renewable energy over the waters of the Mediterranean and the protection of the Marine ecosystem.
At this time there is six companies who consider entering the auction to be the ones in charge of the energy exploitation From this place. Tramuntana Park It is the project of the company Sener and it is one of the first that came to light. Sergi Ametllera director of the company, applauds this first step, which according to him is a bit late: “Was necessary. Now we have to continue studying the land to ensure that the environmental impact is minimal.
Maximum requirement
“What he says Maritime Space Management Plan (POEM) is that you can present a project in this area if you show that it does not harm biodiversity -interprets Ametller-, in the rest of the areas of Catalonia you cannot even try”. In their company, they have assumed that the environmental standards of the ministry will be very severe and that you have to have everything tied up: “We are the most prepared, we have been talking to farmers, fishermen and town halls for two years.”
The next thing will be to wait for the auction to come out and see the calendar. “We are still in time to see mills facing the Gulf of Roses in 2030which is the government’s goal,” he warns.
In addition to Sener, which is already in the optional phase of environmental consultations, there are five other companies -among which companies from the packaging of Ferrovial, Iberdrola or Capital Energy– that are in the prior consultation period.
The Generalitatfor his part, acknowledges that his strategy includes offshore wind with a view to 2030 and even more so in 2050. But since it is the State that has the powers, its objective, say sources from the Climate Action Department, is to be able to influence the conditions imposed by the ministry when presenting plans. The ‘councilor’ Teresa Jordà claims the testing laboratory they plan to: “There are few experiences on floating wind farms, everyone has an opinion and we prepare a platform that serves to know if it can work”.
Meeting in the Empordà
At the end of this week, the Generalitat will meet in the area with mayors and town halls to open a dialogue and then be able to move the doubts or proposals to the government. The reality, at this moment, is that in the Empordà there is no common position. Several municipalities (23) and the Baix Empordà Regional Council oppose the creation of an offshore wind farm. They have done it following the line of entities such as SOS Costa Brava either Stop Macro Parc Eòlic Marí.
Ferran Vallespinos, a doctor in Biology and a former CSIC researcher, has joined the latter association: “It is contradictory that 10 years ago it was made very clear that this area was not suitable for offshore wind power and that now, suddenly, everything has changed.” What they respond from the Administration is that in 2012 there was no option to build a floating wind farm. But anyway, Vallespinós believes that this part of Catalonia should be equated to territories like the Cabo de Gata, where the ministry does not endorse the use of wind to generate energy. They already presented allegations in their day and they will not hesitate to appeal again and challenge everything they consider. They do not rule out that ultimately, with the increase in the cost of products such as silica, some companies do not add up with the numbers and back down.
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Another platform in favor of the energy transition, renew usHe sees it very differently. They interpret the publication of the ministry plan as a starting point. Later, they say, it will be necessary to see if it can be made compatible with respect for the environment. Sergi Nussenvironmentalologist and spokesperson, tries to be prudent: “There are conflicting opinions. Some say that it is an area with great value and others that a lot of trawling has been fished and that it is not as unique as it seems. So it would be best to do studies in depth and check to what extent it is viable”.
In their entity they are convinced that companies will have to be immaculate when putting your ideas on paper. If not, the project will go to waste. What we cannot afford, according to his point of view, is to look the other way: “The amount of energy generated would serve to supply the entire province of Girona. Given this data, we have the obligation to analyze it”. The exact territory that has been marked for the possible installation of offshore wind energy is equivalent to less than 1% of the land surface of Catalonia whole.