Controversies surrounding renewable energies in the Basque Country: Between climate protection and nature conservation – Image: Xpert.Digital
Green energy, tough conflicts: solar projects and the resistance of agriculture
New solar energy projects in Álava – The ambivalent development of renewable energies in the Basque Country
The Basque Country, like many other regions, faces the challenge of advancing the urgently needed expansion of renewable energies without neglecting environmental protection and agricultural interests. Recent regulatory decisions clearly demonstrate these tensions: While solar energy projects are receiving the green light, wind energy projects are increasingly being rejected due to their environmental impact.
This situation reflects a broader conflict unfolding across Europe. On the one hand, the massive expansion of renewable energies is essential for achieving climate goals, but on the other hand, ecological and social concerns must be taken into account.
New solar energy projects in Álava: progress and challenges
The Basque authorities recently approved several major solar projects that will significantly expand the region's energy portfolio. Within 24 hours, the company Bailén Energía received permits for two photovoltaic plants in the Oyón area, each with a total capacity of one megawatt. These projects, called "Val" and "Muga," comprise a total of 1,680 solar modules with an individual output of 0.7 kilowatts peak and will be built on three plots of land within a polygon.
However, the permit is subject to strict conditions. Construction work must be carried out precisely according to the approved project, and a technical solution for the intersection and disruption of the irrigation network must be agreed upon with the local irrigation cooperative before construction begins. These conditions illustrate the complex trade-off between energy production and existing agricultural structures.
At the same time, larger projects have also made significant progress. Solaria and the Basque Energy Agency (EVE) received positive environmental impact declarations for their Vitoria 1 and Vitoria 2 photovoltaic plants, with a total capacity of 100 megawatts. These plants, located in Arratzua-Ubarrundia, Elburgo, and Vitoria-Gasteiz, are expected to generate green energy for over 30 years and avoid 50,000 tons of CO2 emissions annually. The electricity produced by these plants can supply approximately 60,000 households per year and is expected to be supplied to Basque companies at highly competitive prices.
The most ambitious project, however, is the Ekienea solar park in Armiñón, which, with 231,000 solar modules and a capacity of 125.89 megawatts, is the most significant photovoltaic project in the Basque Country to date. The facility will cover 200 hectares, with 100 hectares dedicated to solar modules and another 100 hectares for nature conservation and forest preservation. The project brings together public and private partners: Iberdrola, as the main shareholder (75 percent), the Basque energy company EVE (18 percent), the engineering company Krean (5 percent), and the Álava Provincial Council (2 percent).
Rejection of wind energy projects: environmental protection before energy generation
While solar energy enjoys support in the Basque Country, wind energy projects face considerable opposition, especially when planned in ecologically sensitive areas. A striking example of this is the rejection of the Haya 1 and Haya 2 wind farm projects in Balmaseda by the companies Side Recovery Systems.
The decision is based primarily on the dramatic impact on the local population of the Alimochen, an endangered species of vulture. The Encartaciones region is home to one of the most important populations of the Alimochen in Europe, with one of the highest population densities of the species on the continent. The ten breeding pairs in the Encartaciones represent one-fifth of the entire Basque population, and this region is home to the largest roosting area on the Cantabrian coast in terms of number of individuals.
The four planned wind turbines and their access roads would be located less than one kilometer from critical habitats for this species. The authorities assessed this as a direct and unreasonable impact on a species vulnerable to habitat changes and listed in the Basque Catalogue of Threatened Species. The potential impact was classified as a critical intervention that could not be corrected either through construction or through compensatory measures during the operational phase.
The area surrounding the planned wind farms also contains three areas of special interest and protected areas for feeding scavengers. Further environmental impacts concern various fauna aspects: several sections of the planned access roads and parts of the overhead power lines overlap with streams that are part of the area of special interest for the European mink.
The Alimoche population: An indicator of ecological integrity
The Egyptian Vulture (Neophron percnopterus) serves as an important indicator of the region's ecological health. In Bizkaia, a management program running since 2010 has achieved impressive success: the number of successfully fledged young birds has tripled in twelve years. The provincial administration has located 110 nests of this endangered species.
A particularly significant achievement is the establishment of a roosting site discovered in 2018. While initially 40 subadult specimens gathered there, 106 individuals were counted by the summer of 2022. These roosting sites are of great importance for the future of the Alimochen population, as they are sites of pair formation and provide the specimens that replace losses in the occupied territories, both in Bizkaia and in the neighboring autonomous communities.
The population is estimated at 55 breeding pairs throughout Euskadi, while between 12,000 and 38,000 alimoches remain worldwide. The Iberian Peninsula is home to about 70 percent of the European population of this species. These figures underscore the region's special responsibility for the conservation of this threatened species.
Resistance to large-scale projects: Agriculture versus energy transition
Solaria's planned mega-projects have sparked massive protests. The Solaria Zierbena 2, 3, and 4 projects envision three solar parks in Álava and a high-voltage power line to transport electricity to Zierbena in Bizkaia. These projects have sparked a flood of objections from various associations, farmers, and environmental groups.
The Alavés Agricultural Association (UAGA) sharply criticized the revised project, accusing it of persisting with "the same irregularities" and pursuing "the same unsustainable model as the previous one." The association argues that these photovoltaic systems violate various regulations and are "incompatible with Alavés agriculture."
The criticism specifically alleges that the facilities would violate the Sectoral Territorial Plan for Agroforestry. The area occupied by the three solar plants is 141.64 hectares on land of high strategic value and 173.78 hectares in rural transitional landscapes. Platforms such as Barakaldo Naturala and Mendietan Eolikorik Ez have also filed objections, demanding the inadmissibility of the project due to its illegal nature and negative environmental impacts.
The associations Zuia Bidean and Urkabustaiz Babestuz have jointly submitted 2,730 objections to the project and are not ruling out legal action. They emphasize that this is no longer just about Solaria, but about a model being imposed without consultation and a policy that has become disconnected from their people.
Several tractor protests have taken place in the streets of Vitoria, with hundreds of people and dozens of tractors demonstrating against the "harassment" by promoters of renewable energy projects seeking to "occupy" agricultural land. The demonstrators denounced a "robbery" being carried out "with the invaluable help of our current institutions."
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Future energy with potential for conflict: Renewable energies between innovation and resistance
Environmental impacts of renewable energies: A complex balancing act
The debate in the Basque Country reflects a pan-European challenge: How can the necessary expansion of renewable energies be promoted without excessive ecological and social costs? Wind turbines have demonstrably greater environmental impacts than solar power systems. Large wind turbines significantly impair the landscape and can endanger both birds and bats.
Solar energy is considered one of the least environmentally harmful forms of energy production. Energy generation produces no CO2 emissions, the systems operate virtually silently, and consume no natural resources. Solar modules are up to 95 percent recyclable, and their main component, silicon, is abundantly available.
Nevertheless, even solar power systems are not without environmental impacts. Large open-space systems can take up agricultural land and fragment habitats. However, innovative concepts such as agri-photovoltaics enable dual use, where PV systems are installed over fields or crops. The Ekienea project exemplifies how solar energy can be combined with nature conservation and sustainable land use.
The Basque Energy Strategy 2030: Ambitious goals and practical challenges
The Basque Country is pursuing ambitious goals with its 2030 Energy Strategy. The aim is to achieve a 21 percent share of renewable energy in final energy consumption by the end of the decade. This target is in line with European guidelines and is intended to contribute to making the region more independent of fossil fuels.
The Basque Energy Agency (EVE) plays a central role in the implementation of this strategy. As an agency of the Basque government, it is responsible for implementing projects and initiatives aimed at diversifying energy sources and promoting renewable energy. EVE recommends strategies and actively participates in their implementation and development.
The energy sector in the Basque Country is strategically important and demonstrates strong dynamism throughout the entire value chain. This includes the manufacturing of capital goods and services for the installation and maintenance of energy infrastructure. The Basque Country has positioned itself as a global knowledge pool and industrial reference.
Innovative approaches and model projects
The Ekienea project demonstrates how renewable energy can be combined with nature conservation and regional development. In addition to the actual energy production areas, a significant portion of the site will be used for offsetting measures, including reforestation and the protection of existing forest areas. The facility thus follows the guidelines for environmentally friendly renewable energy development, which are firmly anchored in the Basque Energy Plan.
The project integrates various biodiversity-enhancing measures: A 150-meter-wide buffer strip extending from the Lacorzana Lagoon will be planted with native oaks and shrubs. An ecological corridor will connect the lagoon to the solar power plant and existing floodplains. Additional areas will be reforested with moisture-loving woody plants such as ash and alder. In addition, stone and wood accumulation will create artificial ponds and habitats for amphibians and other animals.
The multifunctional land use allows the space between the modules to be used as pasture for sheep, to operate diversified agri-photovoltaics with organically managed vegetable and fruit cultivation, and to cultivate fodder crops for agricultural use.
Economic and social impacts
The €70 million investment in the Ekienea solar park will primarily boost the local economy and employment. Up to 300 new jobs are planned during the peak construction phases, supplemented by permanent positions for plant operation and maintenance. Municipalities will also benefit through new revenue streams and the strengthening of regional infrastructure.
The projected annual production of 155 gigawatt hours will enable approximately 47,500 households to be supplied with clean electricity annually. Ekienea will avoid approximately 12,400 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually and contribute to the decarbonization of the region.
As a sign of its commitment to the Basque Country, Solaria has established a Basque company called Solaria Eguzki Sorkuntza in the Álava Technology Park, which currently employs 20 people and is expected to grow further in the coming months.
Challenges and conflicts of interest
The protests in Álava highlight the fundamental tensions between different land-use claims. Farmers and ranchers see themselves threatened by the large-scale projects and fear the loss of productive farmland. Over 50,000 objections have been filed against the "megaprojects" for renewable energy that "threaten" the Álava territory.
Critics argue that the so-called energy transition is being used as an "excuse" for large corporations to "do business at the expense of the territory." They complain that the projects do not meet any criteria, plan, or forecast for their implementation.
Particularly controversial is the use of agricultural land of high strategic value. Protesters see this as an "acceleration of the unstoppable destruction of biodiversity and the loss of arable land, forests, and pastures." They complain that people who have relied on rural life are being displaced from their lands.
The role of nature conservation in energy decisions
The rejection of the wind farm projects in Balmaseda demonstrates how conservation considerations can be decisive in energy decisions. The protection of endangered species like the alimoche was given priority over energy industry interests. This decision is in line with EU directives on species protection and national regulations on endangered species.
The importance of the Encartaciones region as a "true sanctuary for the Alimoche" was recognized as a decisive factor. Authorities emphasized that the installation of the wind farms would represent a direct and unacceptable disturbance to a species sensitive to habitat changes.
At the same time, the example of the approved solar plants shows that renewable energy projects can indeed be realized if they are properly planned and provided with the necessary environmental protection measures.
Technological innovation and sustainability
The Basque Country is relying on technological innovation to meet the challenges of the energy transition. The Center for Advanced Manufacturing in the Wind Power Sector (WINDBOX), supported by the Basque government, is improving its international positioning in terms of technological standards and supplier competitiveness.
Collaboration with renowned regional companies serves as a catalyst for technological innovation. Companies such as Ingeteam, Arteche, Ormazabal, and Haizea Wind supply components, control systems, and IT solutions. The Ekienea project also offers space for research and further development of agri-PV and biodiversity-PV models, as well as for testing innovative module designs that achieve ecological and economic synergies.
Solar energy and nature conservation: The complex balancing act in the Basque Country
Experience from the Basque Country shows that the expansion of renewable energies is a complex balancing act between various interests. While climate goals require rapid expansion, ecological limits must be respected and social acceptance must be ensured.
The successful solar energy projects demonstrate that, with careful planning and appropriate compensation measures, renewable energies can be expanded in an environmentally and socially sustainable manner. On the other hand, the rejection of wind projects in ecologically sensitive areas demonstrates that nature conservation must continue to be a priority.
The ongoing protests highlight the need for a more inclusive approach that involves all stakeholders in the planning processes from the very beginning. Only through a transparent and participatory approach can the energy transition be successful and sustainable.
The region faces the challenge of achieving its ambitious climate goals without sacrificing the natural and cultural values that define the Basque Country. The various projects and controversies demonstrate both the possibilities and limitations of this transformation.
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