Wind power

The value chain in the wind power sector is consolidated and well-structured internationally after several decades of development. Like any value chain, it evolves and adapts to the changes that take place in production, technology and the market itself. As a result, the offshore wind energy market is undergoing major changes at present.

Among the key operations that leading sector companies keep to themselves are development, project design, the manufacture of wind turbines and the sale and distribution of the energy generated. The core operations vary depending on the commercial orientation of each company; they may either focus on project development and the generation and sale of power or on the production of wind turbines.

Onshore wind farms are part of a mature sector based on standard technology that is easily replicable by companies all over the world. Cost control is the main factor for competitiveness. The activity is concentrated in a few manufacturers and companies, with the aim of taking advantage of economies of scale, which largely benefits suppliers from lower-cost countries.

As for offshore wind farms, the technology is undergoing ongoing development, with the experimental phase being key. The leading wind turbine manufacturers work with a limited number of specialised suppliers with a view to exploring new and better energy solutions.

The technological progress that will be achieved in the short term will be linked to the use of wind turbines in very hostile environments and through the reduction of manufacturing and O&M costs. In this respect, the technological trends are oriented towards:

• Speeding up the technological development of offshore wind energy.
• The development of floating foundations at sea.
• The development of electrical infrastructure, cabling and grid connection of offshore wind power.
• An evolution towards longer blades and higher turbine towers
• Lighter and more powerful electricity generators.
• More reliable gearboxes that have a longer working life.

In line with the Energy Strategy for Euskadi 2030 (3E-2030), wind power is one of the key pillars in the development of renewables in the Basque Country up to 2030. By then, it is hoped to have wind power capacity of 783 MW.

Euskadi has a strong industrial fabric in the wind power sector, with world leaders in the sector. Around the main driving activities of the manufacture of wind turbines and the development and operation of wind farms, an extensive ancillary industry has emerged manufacturing components and electrical systems, engineering, installation and construction, O&M services and remote control technologies, to name a few.

In the field of offshore wind, this ancillary industry is complemented by a shipbuilding and marine industry that has had a long history in the region. The experience of companies in sectors such as Oil&Gas makes them key players in the development of offshore wind power sector, as they can provide solutions in the design process and in the construction of wind farms and equipment, and also during the operustri and maintenance work that follows.

As part of an international market in which it operates, the Basque wind power sector is faced with a series of industrial and technological challeites that must be taken on in the years to come.