Iberdrola expands grid for wind
Utility Iberdrola has announced it will invest ESP 3300 million (i20 million) on grid improvements and ESP 2000 million on renewable energy in the region of Castilla la Mancha this year. Grid limitations and environmental factors are the greatest obstacles to tapping wind power resources both in Castilla la Mancha and the rest of Spain. Iberdrola's interest in improving the grid to allow more wind on it is linked to its interests in several major wind projects. Together with utility Energia Hidroeléctrica de Navarra (EHN), Iberdrola is the joint owner of Energias Eólicas Europeas, the only company to have got wind plant up in the region so far, (“uåX˜äŠÊ˜·³Ç, May 2000). The regional government is now studying several strategic plans for more wind development, all of which depend on grid improvements. Iberdrola owns shares in other wind affiliates in the region, such as Ecovasa and Iberdrola Diversificación. Furthermore, the utility owns 50% of Gamesa, whose wind arm, Gamesa Eólica, makes Vestas turbines and has supplied all 148 MW of wind turbines EEE has on-line in Castilla la Mancha.