TOPIC 'Renewable Energy' on Jan 30, 2009 (CET)
Navarra, Spain Holds An Alternative Energy Conference
The conference was held in New York on January 20, 2009. It focused on the success Navarra has had in adapting to alternative technologies. The meeting was designed to involve a group effort between the Center for Global Affairs and the Government of Navarra. Discussions were held regarding the implications of alternative energy use for Europe and the world.
The President of Navarra, Miguel Sanz, was the featured speaker. It is worthwhile to note that 50 percent of Navarra’s electricity needs are supplied from wind and solar power. Navarra, which is situated in northeast Spain, is a model of green electricity practices as it generates 60 percent of its power from renewable sources.
Navarra is poised to become the first region in Europe to become self-sufficient with renewable energy resources. The entire country of Spain is transforming itself to be ready to play a lead role in renewable energy technologies. The primary source of Navarra’s renewable energy is wind power, and it is the sixth largest wind power producer in Europe. The region has a wind power plant with a capacity of 900 megawatts, which puts it ahead in ranking of the United Kingdom, France, and Sweden.
Navarra, Spain should be a case in point to study. The region used to be completely dependent on imported energy until the advent of wind power and its development and utilization in the region. Today, Navarra Hydroelectric has projects in the planning stages to construct the largest offshore wind power generation plant in the world.
The region is ahead of Europe in utilizing renewable energy technology and has set a goal of attaining 100 percent of its electricity demands from renewable sources by 2010. In 2004, Navarra had 28 wind farms, more than 100 small water turbines, two biomass plants, and two biogas plants. At that time, it also had the biggest photovoltaic power generation plant in all of Spain at the Montes de Cierzo de Tudela facility, along with hundreds of smaller similar stations.
Sherry Irvin
on behalf of the
BascoTec Internet Limited
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