Spain’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Ecological Transition Sara Aagesen has announced the allocation of €670M for the energy transition, including €212M to help ports upgrade facilities to meet the needs of the offshore wind sector
The Minister said the funds, from the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan (RRTP), demonstrate that the Spanish Government has an unwavering commitment to the energy transition which, she said, would be an engine of growth and job creation in the country.
The ports of Gijón, Las Palmas, Tarragona, Castellón, and a consortium formed by the ports of A Coruña and Ferrol-San Cibrao are the proposed beneficiaries of the ‘PORT-EOLMAR’ programme, which aims to strengthen their ability to manufacture and assemble offshore wind turbines and other sources of marine energy. A
The ports will need to submit an industrial project linked to the development of the marine renewable energy value chain in order to qualify for the funding, committing to an investment comparable to or greater than the aid required.
The ultimate goal is for Spanish ports to become logistic bases used during the construction, assembly, commissioning, repair and maintenance of offshore windfarms.
Each port will also be required to meet key capacity requirements, such as berths suitable for offshore wind vessels, ensuring there is sufficient water depth in their channels and at berths, and ensuring that sufficient space is provide for the manufacture, assembly and transport of wind turbines for the development of offshore windfarms in Spanish – and other – waters.
The €670M will also fund a second call for proposals for pumped-storage hydro energy storage projects, social programmes and mobility.
