IberBlue Wind Constructing 2 GW Offshore Wind on Spain-Portugal Border

Iberian peninsula focused joint venture firm IberBlue Wind will be developing its first cross-border offshore wind project on the Spanish-Portuguese border. The total capacity of the wind projects will be 1.96 GW and spread over an area of 530 square km.

Juan Sebastián Elcano and Creoula wind farms – the two upcoming projects – will have about 109 wind turbines. IberBlue said that the green energy so generated from the two farms could supply electricity needs to more than one million households.

The global investment required for the construction and maintenance of the two projects could exceed EUR 4,000 million, according to the official statement of IberBlue. The massive wind projects will also generate in excess of 5,000 jobs.

Both Spain and Portugal are expected to benefit from the combined wind facility development. Had they developed the wind farms separately, it would have cost 32% more.

The joint wind energy development through IberBlue will maximise synergies in resourcing and economies of scale during both the construction phase and operation phases. Consequently, reducing energy prices for both countries, which operate as one within the Iberian Electricity Market – MIBEL.

Adrián de Andrés, Vice President of  IberBlue Wind, said, “It is very exciting to develop cross-border floating offshore wind projects and to collaborate with both Portuguese and Spanish governments on this positive opportunity for both countries.”

Juan Sebastián Elcano project will employ 29 wind turbines of 18 MW each. The total capacity of the project will be 522 MW.  This will support local Galician industry which has the ability and experience to undertake this kind of project.

Similarly, Creoula will install 80 wind turbines of 18 MW each to get an installed capacity of 1,440 MW.

Creoula is also located within the areas proposed by the Portuguese Government for offshore wind farm development and will contribute to the target set to install 10 GW of offshore wind by 2030.