01 AUG 2024

The Labraza wind farm being developed by Iberdrola España in Álava obtains administrative construction authorisation

  • In addition to the licence to execute the project, the Álava Provincial Council's Department of Territorial Balance and Spatial Planning has declared it of public interest.

  • Aixeindar, the public–private partnership created by Iberdrola España with EVE, is making headway on two of its renewable projects, which will be the first to be launched in the Basque Country since 2006.

  • The Azaceta renewable project is also covered by the administrative construction authorization.  

The paperwork for the first two wind farms to be commissioned in the Basque Country in almost 20 years, Labraza and Azaceta in Álava, is progressing favourably.

The Labraza wind farm just obtained administrative construction authorisation, which means it has the go-ahead to move forward with project execution. This renewable facility has been declared of public interest by the Department of Territorial Balance and Spatial Planning of the Álava Provincial Council. 

The Labraza wind project, with an investment of €49m, will have eight 5MW wind turbines and the electrical connection of the high voltage line to the Laguardia substation has been addressed. It will produce 99,679 MWh per year, which will supply 29,951 homes with power, preventing the release of 16,300 tCO2 into the atmosphere. Up to 90 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase.

The Labraza and Azaceta wind farms also have prior administrative authorisation and environmental green light through their environmental impact statements. In the case of Azaceta, the project also has its administrative construction authorisation. 

These renewable projects, each with a capacity of 40 MW, are the first  generating 100% green energy to be commissioned in the Basque Country since 2006. Located in Araba, Labraza (in Oyon) and Azaceta (in Arraia-Maeztu and Bernedo), they will add to the wind power capacity currently installed in the Basque Country, 153 MW distributed over five wind farms (Oiz, Elgea, Urkilla, Badaia and Punta Lucero). In addition, Aixeindar plans to build a third project, Laminoria, the first mixed wind and photovoltaic facility in the Basque Country.

Aixeindar es un ejemplo de la colaboración público-privada y pone de relieve la apuesta de ambos socios en la transición energética y las energías renovables. 

La totalidad de los proyectos previstos en Euskadi por Aixeindar involucrarán a más de 470 profesionales en periodos punta, contribuyendo a la reactivación de la economía y el empleo local. Una vez operativos, los proyectos generarán energía limpia para una población equivalente de más de 107.000 hogares y evitarán la emisión a la atmósfera de más de 50.000 toneladas de CO2/año.

Aixeindar is an example of public–private collaboration and underlines the commitment of both partners to the energy transition and renewable energies. 

All the projects planned in the Basque Country by Aixeindar will involve more than 470 professionals during peak periods, helping to jumpstart the local economy and create jobs. Once operational, the projects will generate clean energy for a population equivalent of more than 107,000 homes and will prevent the release into the atmosphere of more than 50,000 tonnes of CO2/year.

Biodiversity protection measures

The three renewable projects take into account various innovative measures to protect birdlife and biodiversity:

  • Installation of devices to detect sensitive birdlife and stop wind turbines.

  • Landscape restoration and environmental integration of a slope by laying a ‘vertical garden’.

  • Landscape integration, through natural rock ageing.

  • Plant restoration with recovery of Habitats of Community Interest.

Wind energy cooperativism

Aixeindar continues to work to incorporate community proposals for the municipalities and public near the wind farm projects it is developing. Among other options, it is considering the creation of energy communities, which would make it possible to reduce the price of energy, and crowdfunding –micro-financing– through the participation of the public as project partners, under the form of 'wind energy cooperativism'.

These renewable projects are Aixeindar’s first, a company set up by Iberdrola España and the Basque Energy Board to develop new renewable projects in the Basque Country. 

Aixeindar is aligned with the objectives of the Basque Country Energy Strategy 2030 with the aim of strengthening the commitment to renewables and reacting to the commitments taken on in the Paris Agreement.

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