Catalonia 30 MW project up

The largest of three wind farms in Spain's north-eastern region of Catalonia -- the centre of opposition from avian groups -- is now up and running at full capacity. With all turbines now installed, the Parc Eolic de Trucafort in the province of Tarragona has an installed capacity of nearly 30 MW, bringing Catalonia's combined wind power plant to 60 MW. Part of the wind farm has been supplying power to the grid since December 1998. Trucafort was developed by the Societat Eolica de l'Enderrocada SA -- consisting of the state run alternative energy agency IDAE, Catalonia's own energy agency and a group called Energias Ambientales, which includes the utility affiliated company Union Fenosa Energias Especiales and Ecotècnia, a Spanish turbine manufacturer and wind developer. Ecotècnia has supplied all 91 turbines, consisting of 66, 225 kW units and 25, 600 kW machines. A pair of eagles residing in the immediate vicinity posed one of the main obstacles to the project, which was first presented for regional authority approval in 1995. This brought about the renewed siting of 26 turbines and, consequently, a considerable reduction in energy yields.