Upcoming competitive tendering procedures for floating offshore wind in Spain

1. In Spain, the continental shelf that runs along the Spanish coasts is so narrow that, in general, coastal depths are usually high – 92% of the marine areas in Spain (Iberian Peninsula, Canary and Balearic Islands) up to a distance of 24 nautical miles are located at depths of more than 50 meters-.

These circumstances determine that the National Energy and Climate Plan 2021 – 2030 (PNIEC) contemplates the use of competitive tendering procedures to enable the deployment of offshore wind farms through support mechanisms.

2. According to information provided by the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Demographic Challenge (MITERD), it is expected the approval of regulations on the basis of the tender for the use of marine areas (beyond experimental installations) where off-shore projects can be developed under the form of concessions, with a maximum term of 75 years.

There is no doubt that the effects of these procedures will likewise have to respect some projects already submitted by different entities and currently undergoing environmental impact assessment procedures.

3. Currently, Royal Decree 1028/2007 rules this kind of authorisations and distributes the competences between MITERD itself and the Port Authorities, depending of the location of the project or reserve area.

Although its amendment cannot been discarded, Royal Decree 1028/2007 provides the following criteria, among others, to be considered in tendering procedures for the granting of reserve areas for projects:

• Sufficient legal, technical and economic capacity of the promoter.
• The tender price submitted.
• Forecast of equivalent hours of operation of the facility based on the available data.
• Technology and its impact on the stability of the electricity system.
• Economic, environmental and social impact associated to the project.
• Power capacity of each project.
• Impact on the safety of navigation, shipping routes and the safeguarding of human life at sea.
• Other criteria which, given the specific area where the project is to be located, to be published in the notice announcing the opening of the tendering procedure.

4. These projects will also have to comply with the Maritime Spatial Development Plans (POEM). The POEM are to identify and analyse the areas where the implementation of installations in the maritime districts could potentially increase the energy contribution, as well as the possible compatibilities or interactions with other both present and future uses or occupations.