RWE Innovates in Spain

RWE is testing innovative technologies to promote sustainability at a new wind farm in Spain.

Share:

RWE is testing innovative technologies to promote sustainability at a new wind farm in Spain. The country could take advantage of this to accelerate its energy transition.

A pilot project for RWE

RWE is testing two technologies at an onshore wind farm in Spain to reduce environmental impact. The objective is to reduce the environmental impact during the construction phase. The company also aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during operation.

RWE decides to invest in the Orkoien pilot project near Pamprelune in the north of the country. A 5.7 MW turbine is being built to gain experience with both technologies. Commissioning is expected to take place in the summer of 2023.

RWE uses special plastic mats for the first time in the construction phase. These mats, used in temporary work areas, help minimize the impact of construction on the ground. In addition, the carpets are, in part, made of recycled materials.

A promising technology

The second technology, used by RWE, aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions during operation. In the medium voltage switchgear at the base of the turbine, the use of an insulating agent in the circuit breaker is necessary. It interrupts electrical currents by cooling and extinguishing the arc that occurs when a circuit is opened.

Usually RWE uses SF6 gas (sulfur hexafluoride). It is colorless, odorless, non-toxic, non-flammable and harmless to humans and animals. However, SF6 is a greenhouse gas that has an impact on the climate.

RWE is testing an alternative to SF6 that reduces greenhouse gas emissions to almost zero. This new technology relies 85% on dry air and 15% on C5 fluoroketones as an insulating agent. Thus, the company is also preparing for the SF6 ban announced by the European Union from 2031.

Spain, a growing market

As a world leader in renewable energy, RWE has experience in construction and operation in Spain. The company operates onshore wind farms with a total capacity of over 440 MW. Currently, the company is building the Rea project, its 17th wind farm in Spain.

The Rea project will have a capacity of 40.8 MW. Thus, this project, once operational, should provide clean electricity to about 30,000 homes. It is located in the northeast of the country, about 160 kilometers east of Zaragoza.

RWE also plans to connect two new solar parks with a total capacity of 88 MW to the grid this year. The company seeks to continue to develop renewable energy and reduce its environmental footprint. In addition, the company recently opened a branch office in Madrid, strengthening the Spanish team of about 50 employees.

Energiekontor AG has secured contracts for four wind projects with a total capacity of 125 megawatts, following the Federal Network Agency's May 2025 tender in Germany.
Ecopetrol S.A. finalises the acquisition of Wind Autogeneración from Enel S.A.S., thereby taking over the Windpeshi wind project in Colombia, with a planned capacity of 205 MW, aimed at the Colombian oil group's energy self-consumption.
Oceanic Wind Energy Inc. and Coast Tsimshian Enterprises Ltd. secured an exclusive investigative use permit in the Hecate Strait, paving the way for Canada's first major offshore wind project, targeting capacity of up to 700 MW.
German manufacturer Nordex will supply 13 N163/6.X wind turbines to developer SAB WindTeam for a 91 MW wind farm in Brandenburg, with commissioning scheduled for early 2027 and an extended 20-year service agreement.
German company NeXtWind signs historic €1.4 billion debt financing to accelerate expansion and modernisation of its onshore wind farms and reach a total capacity of 3 GW by 2028.
Energy company TGS has won a major high-resolution geophysical imaging contract for offshore wind site characterization in Norway, strengthening its position in this rapidly growing market.
Iberdrola Australia secures crucial approval from Australian authorities to begin metocean studies for its 3GW Aurora Green offshore project off the coast of Victoria, marking a decisive stage in its development.
ENGIE begins full operation of the Red Sea Wind Energy wind farm in Egypt, increasing its capacity to 650 MW, four months ahead of schedule, now powering over one million homes in the region.
Tokyo Gas, through TOWII Renewables, a joint venture with EWII, purchases two onshore wind projects developed by Finnish company Puhuri, totalling 74.4 MW, marking its expansion beyond the Danish market.
The European Investment Bank grants EWE AG historic €450mn financing for the installation of 2,600 km of underground power lines and the upgrade of over 1,100 substations in Lower Saxony.
Japan’s Ministry of Industry and Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy launch a strategic partnership to develop local offshore wind supply chains and strengthen the country's industrial competitiveness in this energy sector.
Energiekontor AG confirms financial close for the Nartum wind farm, adding 23 megawatts to its owned portfolio and starting the construction phase in the Rotenburg district, Lower Saxony.
Airloom Energy begins construction of a pilot site in Wyoming to test an innovative turbine aimed at enhancing American energy security in the face of anticipated growth in electricity demand.
ACCIONA Energía transfers the San Juan de Marcona wind farm to Luz del Sur S.A.A., a major player in Peru's energy sector, for up to USD 253 million, pending necessary regulatory approvals.
German operator Encavis AG strengthens its portfolio by acquiring two wind farms in Lower Saxony and Saxony, totalling 59 MW, in a transaction with Energiequelle GmbH, thereby expanding its renewable energy assets.
Ocergy officially launches an industrial project aiming to install by 2028 a new-generation floating wind turbine of over 15 MW, in partnership with EnBW, Kyuden Mirai, and TEPCO Renewable Power.
France officially commissions its first floating wind farm, consisting of three turbines with a combined capacity of 25 megawatts, introducing strategic technology in the Mediterranean, vital for national energy goals.
Inaugurated on 20 June, the five-turbine plant of wpd onshore France feeds 18 MW into the grid and unlocks new tax revenue for four Côtes-d’Armor municipalities.
Statkraft refocuses investments on flexible Nordic hydropower and reduces commitments in offshore wind and hydrogen to lower operating costs, amid an uncertain economic environment and pressured profitability.
Suzlon Group receives third consecutive order from AMPIN Energy Transition to supply 170.1 MW of wind turbines for a project in India's Andhra Pradesh state, strengthening their strategic industrial partnership.