SPAIN
Saragossa use case
Type: Onshore wind energy
Focus: Agriculture co-existence
Status: Short term operation phase
1. Primoral (Saragossa, 2019): the Primoral wind farm came into operation in 2019 with a total of 11 turbines with a wind power generation of 39.6MW.
2. Campoliva I and Campoliva II (Saragossa, 2019): the Campoliva I/II units came into operation in 2019 with a total of 17/15 turbines and 36/39 MW power, respectively.
3. Motillla (Cuenca, 2020): the Motilla wind farm came in operation in 2020 with a total of 17 turbines with a wind power generation of 51MW.
4. El Campo (Saragossa, 2019): the El Campo wind farm came in operation in 2019 with a total of 6 turbines with a wind power generation of 20MW.
Knowledge sharing events
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Local champions’ upskilling meetings
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Social innovation” webinars
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Training sessions
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Co-creation workshops
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Brokerage events
WENDY tools assessment
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Social acceptance interventions tool
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WENDY toolbox
Wind farms development
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Design co-existence roadmaps
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Identification of future replication cases
Hub Managers
Ana P. Talayero
Team leader
Short Bio: Industrial Engineer (Master’s degree equivalence) by University of Zaragoza in 1996 and Environmental Engineer Postgraduate and Dr. in Renewable Energy. Working in the Wind Energy sector since 1996. Her responsibilities include high level technical support, wind resource assessment, power efficiency audits and diagnosis and predictive maintenance applied to wind farms and solar plants. As a trainer, she has experience in participations of several courses, lectures, and she coordinates the wind subject in the “Renewable Energy Master” and teaches wind energy in the “Efficiency & Market Master”, in the “Sustainable Energy Management Master”, “Electrical Technology Master” of ICAI (2008-2014) and the “Energy Course” for the Civil Engineers.
Ε-mail: aptalayero@fcirce.es
Country Profile
Needs & Challenges
Domain
Needs
Political
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Clear and efficient policy frameworks for regulatory approvals
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Stakeholder engagement and information dissemination
Economic
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Incentives and support for local community participation
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Benefit-sharing mechanisms
Sociocultural
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Transparent and effective communication strategies
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Community engagement and education campaigns
Technological
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Identifying suitable wind farm locations
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Noise reduction technologies and minimizing turbine noise
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Grid connections and infrastructure availability
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Legal compliance and mitigation of legal challenges
Environmental
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Environmental impact assessments and minimizing ecological risks
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Safeguarding wildlife and ecosystems
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Research and innovations for reduced visual impact and disturbances
Domain
Challenges
Political
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Regulatory and policy barriers at regional and national levels
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Opposition from local stakeholders and community
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Lack of objective and transparent information dissemination procedures
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Facilitating wind energy international trades
Economic
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Potential property devaluation and negative impacts on local businesses
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Balancing economic viability and community needs
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Lack of supportive policy frameworks
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No proper allocation of economic benefits
Sociocultural
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Public perception and misconceptions about wind energy
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Robust community engagement programs
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Elevating environmental awareness
Technological
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Decommissioning outdated wind farms
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Addressing noise and vibration from wind turbine technology
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Strategic turbine placement near urban areas
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Limited grid infrastructure in some areas
Legal
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Regulatory compliance and adherence to legal requirements for wind energy projects
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Harmonizing diverse legal rules for renewable energy communities
Environmental
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Potential impacts on local wildlife and ecosystems
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Collaboration with environmental associations
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Minimizing environmental footprint through technology advancement
Spanish Pilot Case Roadmap
| Debunking Myths and Misunderstandings | |
| Objective | • Eliminate common misconceptions about wind farms in rural areas, focusing on adaptation to change, coexistence with agriculture and livestock and equitable benefit sharing. |
| Actions | • Launch awareness-raising campaigns to communicate facts about wind energy and show how it complements traditional agriculture and benefits the community. |
| • Introduce transparent benefit-sharing mechanisms to ensure that not only the landowners but also the communities affected by the presence of the wind farm receive fair compensation. | |
| • Training sessions and dissemination of wind energy in schools. Thus creating future generations familiar with and followers of wind energy. | |
| Managing Opposition and Promoting Benefits | |
| Objective | • Tackle opposition from dissenting groups and highlight the positive impacts of wind farms on local communities. |
| Actions | • Publicize mitigation measures implemented to minimize the wind farms' adverse effects. |
| • Utilize local improvements (e.g., football pitch enhancements) as examples of the project's benefits. | |
| • Clarify tax implications and promote active participation and coexistence through initiatives like school visits and virtual tours of the wind farm. | |
| Enhancing Regional Authority Involvement | |
| Objective | • Strengthen the role of regional authorities in supporting citizen participation and ensuring project transparency. |
| Actions | • Foster clear communication channels between project developers, local authorities, and the community from the project's outset. |
| • Work closely with local stakeholders to identify and mitigate potential risks and hazards. | |
| • Clear rules to follow the local goverment. | |
| Leveraging Innovation and Digitalization | |
| Objective | • Utilize digital tools to improve information dissemination, transparency, and community engagement. |
| Actions | • Develop a website to provide clear, accessible information about the wind farm's energy production and environmental benefits. |
| • Introduce a suggestion box for community feedback and use Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) to monitor and address issues promptly. | |
| • Preparation of citizens using virtual reality to familiarize them with the wind farm prior to construction. | |
| Monitoring and Adapting Community Engagement | |
| Objective | Establish indicators to monitor community engagement and acceptance, adjusting strategies based on feedback and outcomes. |
| Actions | • Monitor participation rates in community activities and the local treatment of wind farm staff as indicators of community acceptance. |
| • Regularly review and adjust KPIs to reflect progress and identify areas for improvement. | |
