Spain got a jolt of renewable energy last week when a large gust of wind generated 40 percent of the country’s power. The gust, which was part of a spell of windy weather, generated 11,180 MW.
According to Spain’s Wind Energy Association, the turbines worked at 69 percent of their theoretical potential during the height of the wind gusts.
It’s not surprising that Spain set the new wind energy record–the country is the third largest producer of wind energy in the world after Germany (second place) and the US (first place). In the next year, Spain plans on generating 30 percent of its power from renewable energy sources.
Ariel Schwartz was formerly the editor of CleanTechnica and is a contributor at Fast Company, Inhabitat, Triple Pundit, SF Weekly, and NBC Bay Area Online. A graduate of Vassar College, she has previously worked in publishing, organic farming, documentary film, and newspaper journalism. Her interests include permaculture, hiking, skiing, music, relocalization, and cob (the building material). She currently resides in San Francisco, CA.
