The twin towers of Bahrain, the Bahrain World Trade Center, opened last summer and designed by WAS Atkins, is a building that combines the latest architectural and design efficiency. 50 plants of 240 m, with the particularity that has 3 turbines of 29 m in diameter and 225 kW each between two towers. The wind tunnel created by the building itself in the form of candles channels the sea breeze, forming an “S” so that air flows applied perpendicular to the wind. The integación wind power in urban environments is demonstrated.

This “wind farm” will generate between 1,100 and 1,300 MWh of electricity annually to supply 10% – 15% of the building or 300 average homes. Are still far from being self-sufficient, but something is started, helps to save 55 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year.

In addition, this building incorporates other features that make environmentally responsible as the kinetic insulation, protection from direct sunlight, water conveyance systems and heat exchange …

Zapatero, who has appeared before Congress to explain the results of the European Council, has said that it “has had very positive results for Europe and for Spain”, especially since, in addition to “an important political impetus to the process of European construction “” Nature has given a letter of integrated European energy policy and climate change that puts us in the forefront of renewable energy. “

Tripling renewables

In this sense, about the agreement that by 2020 the 20% renewables in energy production, the Prime Minister said that Spain should “triple in the next thirteen years the current rate,” which “involve a significant effort but also provides research, technology and industry opportunities Spanish first order. “

The President has reviewed other targets in this area-limit temperature increase to 2 degrees Celsius, a 20% reduction in C02 emissions by 2020 – as well as the first Action Plan approved energy policy and has admitted they are “ambitious, both in body and by the time horizon for which you have set” but are, he said, “In line with the priorities and the action line of the Government”. “Source: Europa Press

The President insists on a progressive reduction of nuclear energy in 30 years

José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero announced yesterday at the Congress of Deputies, before the end of the term, the Government will present a document establishing the strategic planning of Spain for the next 30 years, including a gradual reduction nuclear power in our country.

Zapatero made the announcement during the debate on the outcome of the last European Council in Brussels last week, after the PP president Mariano Rajoy, underlined that, while in other European countries, calls for a debate on the use of nuclear energy, in Spain the only thing that is known is that Zapatero he dubbed ‘the most antinuclear his government. ” Also CiU spokesman, Josep Antoni Duran i Lleida, claimed that debate.

The Chief Executive said that it will meet the commitment of the PSOE’s electoral program of gradually reducing nuclear energy, “guaranteeing the energy supply of the country, while increasing renewable energy.

In the late ’80s was one of the poorest regions in Austria due to outdated economy based on agriculture, population declines close to 30%. To create jobs, it was decided to establish a concept of development based on harnessing renewable energy sources available home in the same municipality in place of fossil fuels.

Including transport, energy requirements per household amounted to 3,500 € / year, representing a whopping 35 million € / year for nearly 10,000 homes in the city and surroundings (Güssing has 4400 inhabitants). But there was an extremely abundant resource in the area and hardly used: the biomass available in over 45,000 hectares.

Then were evaluated energy consumption and savings potential, and it all started in 1991 with the production of rapeseed-based biodiesel and a remote heating network based on biomass. Thus Güssing solved its supply of thermal energy and fuel, but missing the third leg: electricity, so it was decided to establish a biomass power plant.

In 2001 he devised a revolutionary new type of plant with which enable the decentralization of electricity through a gasification process. This process allows not only high energy output, but also can simultaneously generate electricity and heat.

Creating more than 1,000 jobs

The concept of sustainable development established in this region, along with the 35% reduction in energy prices, has attracted over 50 companies, creating 1,000 jobs, of which 140 are directly related to energy. Also, are visited by thousands of people every month, especially experts and students, who go there to see with their own eyes what is happening.

This example is spreading. The Burgenland region, which has 280,000 inhabitants has decided to be 100% renewable in 2013 following the same pattern.

That sets an example

Again, an example of sustainable regional development and self-sufficient. To me automatically comes to my head a country like Spain, where agriculture is becoming less viable and competitive, but the energy is a increasingly expensive and scarce. Güssing is another demonstration of the feasibility of economic progress with the development environment.

The occurrences of this city do not end there. Nuon, the energy distribution company, has begun building a solar thermal to provide hot water (DHW) to one of their new neighborhoods.

6.900m2 comprise the installation of solar collectors on a 15.000m2 surface that forms the “solar island”. The hot water will be transported by pipeline into homes in the neighborhood of West Noordenplassen. 9750 GJ per year, 10% of the consumption of 2,700 inhabitants. The total project cost amounts to € 6 million, including € 1.4m grant awarded by the EU.

It is not the first nor the last example is offered by our northern neighbors, they also have many fewer hours of sun in Spain we have not yet developed any project of this scale, but the potential of solar thermal centralized whether in buildings, housing developments and / or neighborhoods, is great for reducing costs and increasing efficiency.

In this sense, it is crucial the involvement of municipalities and, since public opinion can convey these ideas and concerns.

Germany is the example of developing a non-existent market with major support from a well-informed public opinion, a coordination between all actors involved, and especially an incentive pricing system for investment that has proved, on today The best of the options applied.

Carefully study this Blog “The German case” not only because it has guided us, but because Spain is applying the same principles behind the Hispanic-Germanic agreement signed in 2004 (which is just adhere Slovenia) called Feed-in Cooperation for which it is teaching the world the benefits of the tariff system feed-in system “and supporting the promotion of renewable energy sources. In Europe, 18 states already have a system to promote electricity from renewable sources.

Understanding evolution in Germany can help us in setting expectations about the future that awaits Renewable Energies in our country.

Yet come into all aspects, this article will begin by studying its rate and compare it with ours. In both countries these rates apply only the first year of installation of the plant, to be updated annually thereafter so indexed.

Comment:

• They are different installations on roof, open space and rest. Furthermore, deduction in the integration into facades. These measures, unfortunately have not yet come to our country.
• In Germany there are 2 steps for small installations under 30 kW and less than 100 kW. In Spain, only one.
• The German market already enjoys a certain maturity, therefore, to force improvements in the efficiency of facilities and reducing costs, tariffs for new plants regress annual 5% (6.5% from the 2006 for those situated above ground). In Spain we are not yet at that level, so that rates do not decrease in time.
• The rates are higher in Germany than in Spain, mainly due to the large difference in radiation between the two countries. From the viewpoint of solar energy potential, we won by a landslide.

The differences between the two systems are still palpable, but the way it has been decided to go hand in hand. I’m optimistic about the development of Renewable Energy in Spain, but there will be to remove, by which we live changes and adaptations, without forgetting the goal of ending in 2020 producing 37% of our electricity with renewable sources of origin.

There are many other points in common and differentiating between the two policies to be followed carefully studied.