Spain producers say they can double wind power

By Martin Roberts

BARCELONA (Reuters) - Spanish wind power producers on Tuesday said they could double the country's output between 2010 and 2020, which would be more than enough to offset the scheduled demise of the country's nuclear plants.

Spain has about 14,000 megawatts of installed capacity in wind parks and government plans call for 20,000 MW to be installed by 2010 as part of a plan to produce more of the country's electricity from renewables.

Wind power association (AEE) president Jose Donoso said capacity could rise again to 40,000 MW by 2020.

"This is not only possible, it is an excellent opportunity for consolidating Spanish leadership in the sector," Donoso told an energy conference in Barcelona.

By 2020, the European Union aims to cut its permitted quotas of greenhouse gases to 21 percent below 2005 emissions levels. The prospect of rising emissions costs has encouraged the development of renewables in Europe.

Other speakers at the conference said record oil prices also underlined the need to boost renewable energy sources.

The 20,000-MW expansion in wind power seen by Donoso would easily surpass the 7,500 MW currently produced by Spain's eight remaining nuclear power stations, whose operating permits expire between 2009 and 2014.

Seven of Spain's nuclear plants' permits will expire during the mandate of Spain's recently re-elected Socialist government, which has pledged to phase them out. The government has yet to say whether it will extend the plants' working lives.