Publish Date : 02-May-2018
The European Investment Bank has taken another step forward in the promotion of clean energy production in Spain. With the support of the Investment Plan for Europe, the EU bank has signed a EUR 50m loan to finance a wind power project developed by the Spanish firm Forestalia Renovables. The shareholders in the Goya project are Mirova, a subsidiary of Natixis dedicated to responsible investment, General Electric, Engie and Forestalia itself. This Aragonese firm, which specialises in the development of solar, wind and biomass energy, was the winning bidder in Spains first auction for new renewables-based power generation facilities in early 2016. This is the first wind power concession to be awarded without public subsidies or incentives.
Together with EUR 120m provided by a syndicate of commercial banks, the EIB loan will finance the construction and operation of nine wind plants with a total capacity of 300 MW.
The new wind farms (Argovento, Caacoloma, El Saso, Sierra Luna, and Las Majas I, II, III, IV and V) will be located in Aragn, specifically the administrative districts of Campo de Belchite, Daroca and Cariena. In total, 82 wind turbines with an aggregate power generation capacity of over 900 GWh per annum and no pollutant emissions will be installed. The EIB-financed project will also create employment: 700 temporary jobs during the construction phase and 50 permanent jobs when it enters into service.
EU Commissioner for Climate Action and Energy, Miguel Arias Caete, said: "The European Commission welcomes the financing of these nine wind farms in Aragn. Europe will always endeavour to support projects that invest in the transition to clean energy and job creation. Investing in renewables means investing in quality jobs. Spain has the potential to be the benchmark for renewable energies and sustainable long-term job creation. These projects provide an example of this potential and they will certainly not be the last".
Support for renewable energy generation is one of the priorities of the EU bank, which promotes the use of clean energy that reduces dependence on other more polluting sources.
The EIB is providing this loan under the Investment Plan for Europe, known as the Juncker Plan. This increases the EIB Groups capacity to finance investment projects that, in line with the Plans criteria, involve activities which by their structure or nature have a higher risk profile but which foster firms competitiveness and create jobs. This project will not receive any public sector support and is one of the first to be implemented under the new regulatory framework for the industry approved in Spain in 2013.
The EIB and climate action
The EU bank is the multilateral institution that provides most finance for climate action worldwide. Last year, it devoted more than 25% of its total activity to this priority.
In 2017 the EIB provided EUR 870 million to finance projects in Spain involving the development of cleaner means of transport and implementation of new, less polluting and more environmentally friendly production processes.
Go to previous page
