- The project is driven by Aixeindar, a company owned by Iberdrola and the Basque Energy Agency.
Aixeindar, a company created to promote new renewable projects in the Basque Country, advances in the processing of the first three wind farms to be launched since 2006. The wind farm in Labraza has just obtained the administrative construction authorization (AAc). In the case of Azaceta the project also already has its corresponding AAc. Both renewable facilities that are being processed by Iberdrola and the Basque Energy Agency (EVE) through the public-private society Aixeindar, also have prior administrative authorisation (AAp) and environmental green light through their DIAs (Environmental Impact Declaration). These projects will represent a definitive endorsement of the green energy generation commitment in the Basque Country, in order to move forward with the goal of climate neutrality, by 2050 at the latest, of the Energy Transition and Climate Change Act.
Aixeindar, a company created in 2019 by the Basque Energy Agency (40%) and Iberdrola (60%), advances favorably in the processing of two wind farms in the Basque Country: Labraza and Azaceta, located in Álava.
The wind farm in Labraza has just obtained the administrative construction authorization (AAC) with the corresponding authorization to advance the project execution. In addition, this renewable installation has been declared of public interest by the Department of Territorial Balance and Spatial Planning of the Provincial Council of Álava, Arabako Foru Aldundia.
Labraza's wind project, with an investment of €49 M, will have 8 wind turbines of 5MW and the electric connection of the evacuation line with the Laguardia substation is resolved. It will produce 99.679 MWh annually, which will supply 29,951 households with renewable energy, thus avoiding the emission into the atmosphere of 16,300 tCO2. Up to 90 jobs are expected to be created during the construction phase.
Labraza and Azaceta wind farms also have prior administrative authorization (AAp) and environmental green light through their DIAs (Environmental Impact Declaration). In the case of Azaceta, the project also has the AAc (administrative construction authorization).
These renewable projects, of 40 MW of power each, become the first wind power plants that will generate 100% green energy that will be launched in the Basque Country since 2006. Located in Araba, Labraza (Oion) and Azaceta (Arraia, Maeztu and Bernedo), they will add to the wind capacity currently installed in the Basque Country, which is 153 MW distributed in five wind farms (Oiz, Elgea, Urkilla, Badaia and Punta Lucero). In addition, Aixeindar plans the construction of a third project, Laminoria, the first wind and photovoltaic mixed installation in the Basque Country.
Aixeindar is an example of public-private partnership and highlights the commitment of both partners to the energy transition and renewable energies.
The totality of the projects planned in the Basque Country by Aixeindar will involve more than 470 professionals in peak periods, contributing to the reactivation of the economy and local employment. Once operational, the projects will generate clean energy for an equivalent population of over 107,000 households and avoid the emission into the atmosphere of over 50,000 tonnes of CO2/year.
The three renewable projects take into account different and innovative bird and biodiversity protection measures such as:
- Installation of sensitive avifauna detection devices and wind turbine stop.
- Landscape restoration and environmental integration of a slope by installing a “vertical garden”.
- Landscape integration, by means of natural ageing of the rock.
- Plant restoration with recovery of habitats of Community interest.
Aixeindar continues to work to incorporate social proposals for municipalities and citizens close to the wind farm projects it is promoting. Among other options is valuing the creation of energy communities, which would allow a reduction in the price of electricity to the local population, and crowdfunding -microfinance through the participation of citizens and caregivers as project partners, in a formula of ‘wind cooperativism’. It is also analysing the conclusion of long-term energy sales contracts (model PPA) with Basque companies.
The development of these renewable projects represents the first actions of the Aixeindar society, formed by Iberdrola and the Basque Energy Agency (EVE), to promote new renewable projects in the Basque Country.
Aixeindar is in line with the objectives, among others, of the Euskadi Energy Strategy 2030 and the Energy Transition and Climate Change Act, in order to strengthen the commitment to renewables and meet the commitments set out in the Paris Agreement and COP 28.