PROPOSALS for Spain’s first offshore wind farm have blown one step nearer.
A trio of industry giants – Acciona, Iberdrola and Capital Energy – have now unveiled their plans to harness the wind off the Costa de la Luz.
One of the projects – by Acciona – would involve putting 278 turbines in the sea 14 km off Trafalgar, generating a total of 1000 MW.
The windmills would include fish farms at the base.
The proposals have been the subject of bitter debate in the area for several years, with local fishermen, tourist bodies, councils and the provincial government all uniting to oppose them.
The government in Madrid – which will have the final say – has stated that no windmills will be allowed within eight km of the coast.
It has however, stopeed short of saying exactly in which areas they will be given the go-ahead.
Local fishermen say the vibration from the turbines will affect the migrating tuna on which the almadraba fishermen have depended for 3000 years.
The Plataforma por la Defensa del Mar de Trafalgar argues that the visual impact will affect tourism in the area, although supporters say it would be the equivalent of looking at a biro from 15 metres.
The group is calling on the government to look at alternative sites for the windfarm.
As one Spanish campaigner explained: “We lost the last Battle of Trafalgar. We’re not going to lose this one.”
