The counselor of Industry, Energy Transition and Sustainability of the Basque Government, Mikel Jauregi, and the CEO of Iberdrola Renovables, Julio Castro, toured this Thursday the facilities of the Labraza wind farm (Álava), which is already facing the final stage of its construction after the arrival this week of the first blades of the wind turbines, according to EVE and Iberdrola.
Also participating in the visit were the deputy counselor of Energy Transition of the Basque Government, Irantzu Allende; the general director of the Basque Energy Agency (EVE), Mikel Amundarain; the territorial manager of the Northern area of Iberdrola Renovables, Javier Martínez de Ilarduya; and the project manager of the Labraza wind farm, Sergio Ortiz.
Mikel Jauregi emphasized that Labraza "is the first wind farm built in Euskadi in the last 20 years. With a capacity of 40MW, it is the first milestone of the EVE map with which we aim to build 450 MW in large wind and photovoltaic developments by 2030; a future investment co-financed by the neighbors with their savings."
For his part, Julio Castro, CEO of Iberdrola Renovables, highlighted that "the arrival of the first blades marks a key milestone in the progress of the Labraza wind farm, a strategic project to boost renewables in Euskadi." "Labraza reinforces our commitment to energy transition, with a positive impact on the territory and great traction capacity for the Basque industry," he added.
Transport of the blades and components of the park
The eight blades are being transported to the site of the park using two large cranes in a particularly delicate operation, utilizing the 'Blade Lifter' technique, which takes advantage of the inclination of the blade to facilitate its movement and significantly reduce the impact on the environment.
These operations require enabling alternative access routes to the nearby municipalities during the weeks that the transfers last. On previous dates, other elements of the wind turbines had already followed the same itinerary. This is the case of the nacelles or gondolas, the housings that protect the upper part of the tower and act as the "heart" of the turbine.
The manufacturing of all these components for Labraza represents a significant boost for the value chain of the Basque wind industry. Siemens Gamesa will be responsible for supplying the 8 wind turbines of 5 MW each; the gearboxes will be produced at the facilities in Asteasu; and the electrical substation is the responsibility of EDS Ingeniería y Montaje, based in Galdakao.
Employment, renewable generation, and local impact
The execution of this renewable project entails the creation of up to 90 jobs, mostly of a local nature, during the construction phase. The positive impact also extends to the surrounding municipalities, to their neighbors, and to the business fabric close to the infrastructure. Once operational, the Labraza wind farm will generate 99,679 MWh per year, enough to supply renewable energy to 30,000 homes, and will prevent the emission of 16,300 tCO2 into the atmosphere.
Economic benefits and reduction of energy prices
The promoters of the park have articulated various advantages for citizens and companies, including a reduction in energy prices for residents in Labraza and Barriobusto. Likewise, the signing of PPAs with companies in the area (long-term supply contracts with stable prices) is contemplated, as well as the possibility of attracting new investments from companies interested in advancing the decarbonization of their industrial processes.
The commissioning of the wind farm will bring to the municipalities initial revenues close to 1.2 million euros with the start of the works, in addition to recurring annual returns of around 230,000 euros in the form of taxes and fees.
The project promoters have also highlighted the "good result" of the citizen participation formula in financing (crowdlending), as the call has received more than double the applications from the Alava citizenry: the demand has exceeded 6.5 million euros, compared to the 3 million offered.
Regarding the origin of the contributions, 60% of the crowdlending comes from Rioja Alavesa and, within this percentage, more than a third of the total (1.1 million euros) has been contributed by neighbors from Labraza, Barriobusto, and Oion. These localities had guaranteed their effective participation, as they are the priority investment area due to their direct proximity to the wind farm.
First wind farm in Euskadi in two decades
The Labraza wind farm, the first project of this type in Euskadi in the last 20 years, will involve a public-private investment of 56 million euros, financed by Iberdrola (75%) and the Basque Energy Agency, the energy agency of the Basque Government (25%).
The development of this facility is part of the first joint actions between the Basque electric company and the Basque Energy Agency to launch new renewable projects in Euskadi. It has been declared of public interest by the Department of Territorial Balance and Land Planning of the Provincial Council of Álava-Arabako Foru Aldundia.
This park is integrated into the Industry-Euskadi 2030 Plan, within the Transformative Project "Development of Renewable Energies," whose objective is to reinforce energy autonomy. Labraza is also included in the "Priority action areas of the EVE until 2030" for the promotion of large wind and photovoltaic generation facilities.