Spain wind power firms see steady growth in 2009

Spanish wind power companies in the world’s third-largest producer expect steady growth in capacity this year despite the credit crunch due to long-term investments, an industry spokesman said on Monday.

Wind power business group AEE tallied 16,740 megawatts in installed capacity in Spain at the end of 2008, a rise of 1,609 MW for the year.

“We expect a similar amount (of growth) this year,” AEE president Jose Donoso said at a news conference.
“The situation could be tough for speculative firms with a temporary view, but we have always said that this business is for long-distance runners, and they are the ones that will survive.”

Donoso said Spain’s wind farms were on track to meet a government target of 20,000 MW in capacity by 2010.

Last year’s increase in capacity was slower than a jump of 3,508 MW in 2007, when producers rushed to install new generators before the government cut subsidies.

Reuters