Aixeindar, the company created by Iberdrola España and the Basque Energy Agency (EVE) of the Basque Government to promote new renewable energy projects in the Basque Country, is moving forward with the construction of the Labraza wind farm, located in the Alava municipality of Oion. It will be the first wind farm in the Basque Country open to public financing and a pioneer in environmental technology. The development of this facility represents one of the first initiatives by the joint venture formed by Iberdrola España and the Basque Energy Agency (EVE) to promote new renewable energy projects in the Basque Country. Aixeindar is an example of public-private partnership and highlights both partners’ commitment to the energy transition and renewable energy. The Basque Government, through the EVE and via public-private partnerships, is committing to large-scale photovoltaic and wind power developments by co-investing 80 million euros alongside industrial partners through 2030. These wind and photovoltaic projects are expected to increase generation capacity by 450 MW. This, combined with the projected 300 MW increase in self-consumption by 2030, will double the region’s self-generated electricity, raising the ratio from 7.9% to 15%. In this regard, “EVE Priority Action Zones through 2030” have been identified for the deployment of large-scale photovoltaic and wind power generation facilities in the Basque Country. With this step, the Basque Country would double its renewable electricity generation capacity to advance toward energy self-sufficiency. The goal is to ensure greater security of supply, industrial competitiveness, and social well-being. The “EVE Priority Action Areas through 2030” have been selected using the “EVE Model.” This model establishes the conditions for a “realistic and rational” deployment of renewables in the Basque Country. The EVE Model prioritizes locations that meet the following criteria, in this order:
- Availability of resources: sun or wind.
- Environmental and urban planning feasibility.
- Proximity to an electrical substation (within 15 km).
- Commercial viability of the project.
These criteria are reflected in three public maps that guide EVE’s actions. In this way, deployment is concentrated where there is greater resource availability, minimal environmental impact, proximity to the electrical network, and economic potential.
Aixeindar, a joint venture between Iberdrola España and EVE, is offering citizens the opportunity to participate through crowdlending with the ‘Gure Haizea’ initiative, which promotes a new energy model that will be presented at a series of informational meetings to explain to residents how to join the renewable energy project.
Crowdlending is a type of collective collaborative financing that allows investors to obtain a quick return with an annual interest rate of 7%. It is primarily aimed at residents of Labraza, Barriobusto, Oion, and Rioja Alavesa, but is also open to the entire historical territory of Álava. The goal will always be to prioritize subscribers from the areas closest to the Labraza wind farm.
To explain the general outline of the Labraza project and this innovative financing product aimed at the citizens of Álava, Iberdrola Spain and the EVE have scheduled a series of open informational sessions, where attendees can learn firsthand about the characteristics of the participatory financial product and have any questions they may have answered. The scheduled dates are:
- LABASTIDA/BASTIDA. May 19, 6:00 p.m. Casa de Cultura (Plaza de la Paz).
- OYÓN-OION. May 27, 6:00 p.m. Sala Bazterra (Plaza de la Concepción).
- LAGUARDIA. May 28, 6:00 p.m. Villa-Lucía Event Center (Carretera de Logroño s/n).
In addition, residents of the Administrative Districts of Labraza and Barriobusto will receive a special energy rate once the renewable infrastructure is operational and for the entire operational life of the wind farm.
Through these initiatives, the Labraza wind farm will provide a social benefit that will allow the people of Álava to be part of the farm’s construction, participating in the project’s financial investment and obtaining an attractive return while driving the transition toward a more sustainable energy model.
The project, which is already under construction, will utilize the most advanced environmental protection technologies. For instance, during the transport of its blades, the project will employ Blade Lifter technology—a European first—which uses the blade’s tilt to facilitate transport.
The Labraza wind farm will be the first to come online in the Basque Country since 2006, with an investment of 59 million euros—a move that represents a major boost for the Basque wind energy industry’s supply chain, a sector in which the Basque Country is a market leader.
The construction work has been awarded to the Navarre-based firm ECAY, the wind turbines to Siemens-Gamesa, and the expansion of the transmission substation to the engineering firm EDS, both Basque companies; the project does not require a new transmission line since it will use an existing one that connects to the electrical network (REE) in Laguardia.
The installation of this 40 MW wind farm will increase the Basque Country’s current installed wind power capacity by 26%, from 155 MW to 193 MW. Once operational, it will produce 99,679 MWh annually, supplying 30,000 households with renewable energy and preventing the emission of 16,300 tCO2 into the atmosphere.
Nguồn: https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/wind/iberdrola-moves-forward-with-labraza-wind-farm-20260518