November 11, 2024
BlueFloat Energy at the III Congreso Eólico Marino: Advancing Offshore Wind Deployment in Spain
Our team concluded the III Congreso Eólico Marino by participating in a debate on the future of offshore wind in Spain, sponsored by Parque Tarahal—our offshore wind project in Gran Canaria in collaboration with Plenitude and Sener.
During his speech in the session “Estrategias para la Fabricación de las Futuras Estructuras de Acero para los Parques Eólicos Marinos Flotantes,” Francisco Villazón González, Head of Engineering at BlueFloat Energy, highlighted the importance of a solid regulatory framework, stating that “Royal Decree 962/2024 marks a milestone for high-investment renewable projects.” Additionally, the panel called for the Ministerial Order to be submitted for public consultation by the end of the year, which would pave the way for the first tender in 2025, with the Canary Islands prioritized. The need for a tender schedule up to 2030 was also emphasized to ensure stability for the supply chain.
Villazón also stressed the importance of attracting talent and promoting the training of skilled labor to ensure generational renewal, which is essential to maintaining the sector’s competitiveness.
Julieta Schallenberg, Deputy Minister for Ecological Transition of the Government of the Canary Islands, highlighted in the Sesión Plenaria the economic and employment impact of offshore wind in the Canary Islands. A 200 MW offshore wind farm could contribute between 550 and 780 million euros to the GDP of the islands and up to 950 million at the national level. Furthermore, it could generate up to ~2,000 jobs in the region, reinforcing its positive impact on the local economy and employment.
As part of our participation in the congress, Álvaro Pérez Plantalamor, Helena Brage, Ainhoa Villar Lejarreta, and Javier Monfort also visited the Navantia Seanergies shipyard facilities in Puerto Real, which are crucial to large-scale offshore wind deployment. Our team had the opportunity to see advancements in assembling jackets for substations and the new flat panel production line.
At BlueFloat Energy, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting this development, working to build a more sustainable and energy-forward future for Spain, and fostering job creation and opportunities at every stage of the process.
Learn more about the Tarahal Project: https://parquetarahal.com/
