得益於發展迅猛、技術含量提升及單個成本持續縮減，西班牙過去10年是歐洲風能裝機量增長最快的國家之壹。最新數據顯示，該國2000年新裝風力渦輪發電機容量達795兆瓦。至此，西班牙的風電總裝機容量達到了2234兆瓦（總計安裝了近3000臺風力渦輪發電機），在歐洲僅居丹麥之後（見圖6）。
The most important leg?islative change in support of wind and other renewables came in December 1999, when the Spanish Council of Ministers approved the national Plan for the Promotion of Renewable Energy prepared by IDEA (the Agency for Energy Saving and Diversification). The targets of this plan have been set to coincide with those laid down in the Law on the Elec?tricity Sector, which stated that 12% of total energy demand in Spain would be met from renewable sources by 2010. This target, moreover, is similar to that set for the European Union in the White Paper on Renewable Energy [3].
1999年12月見證了西班牙法律在支持風能及其它可再生能源的重大轉變。當時，內閣會議批準了由IDEA制定的推廣可再生能源的全國性方案。這壹方案恰好與電力法所設定的目標相吻合，即到2010年西班牙12%的能源總需求將由可再生能源來滿足。此外，這與歐盟可再生能源白皮書的目標也相差不遠3。
This plan was approved at a key moment for the country’s renewables in?dustry, with a number of technologies reaching maturity. As far as wind energy is concerned, the estimated utilizable tech?nical potential lies in the 7500–15 000 MW range. This has led to the proposal of a planned increase to 8140 MW (com?pared with installed capacity of 834 MW in 1998) and pro?duction of 19 536 GWh/year, equivalent to 1680 Ktoe. The plan set the ambitious objective of reaching 5500 MW of in?stalled wind power by 2006. This would represent an invest?ment of more than 4.6 million Euros.
這壹方案的批準，正值西班牙可再生產業的關鍵時刻，因為當時壹系列技術日臻完善。就風能來說，預計可用的技術潛力約7500~15000兆瓦。正基於此，西班牙計劃將風能裝機總量提高至8140兆瓦（別忘了，1998年該國風能裝機總量為834兆瓦），每年的發電量增加至19536Gwh，相當於1680Ktoe（千噸石油當量）。這壹方案為西班牙制定了雄心勃勃的目標，即2006年該國風電裝機總容量達到5500兆瓦；這也意味著壹項超過460萬歐元的投資。
Most parts of the country have been involved to a greater or lesser extent in this national effort, while nearly all Spanish provinces now have their own wind energy plans. The most active regions during 2000 were Galicia, Castilla La Mancha, Castilla y Leon, and Navarre, all steadily increasing the exploitation of their large wind potential. Galicia leads the national list with about 30% of the total installed capacity. Galicia has already produced its own white paper on energy, and also ratified a law covering wind energy, whose main aim is to facilitate the administrative procedures involved in obtaining licences for wind parks. The year 2000 has already been exceptional with a growth rate of 64% over 1999.
西班牙各地，或多或少都卷入了這場全國性的風能發展洪流中。幾乎所有的省都擁有了自己的能源發展方案。在2000年，風頭最盛的地區無疑是Galicia、Castilla La Mancha、Castilla y Leon和Navarre；憑借著自身豐富的風力資源，它們均持續增加了對該能源的利用。作為全國風能利用的排頭兵，Galicia已推出了自己的能源白皮書，並簽署了壹項與風能有關的法律，旨在加快諸如發放風力發電廠牌照等行政程序。2000年是卓有成效的壹年；該地區的風能較上年增加了64%。
Castilla La Mancha experienced the highest growth of 2900% during 2000, an increase from 11 to 323 MW. The region is now preparing a Plan for the Promotion of Renewable Energy, with the objective of reaching 500 MW by the end of 2001. Castilla y Leon has also seen some major wind parks installed, doubling its capacity from 108 to 215 MW. Navarra has continued to build on its 25% contribution to the national total during 1999, reaching 486 MW by the end of 2000.
2000年，Castilla La Mancha的風能總量增長了2900%，從11兆瓦增至323兆瓦。該地區擬推出壹項可再生能源推廣方案，以便在2001年底裝機總容量達到500兆瓦。Castilla y Leon也上馬了壹些大型的風力發電廠，裝機總容量從108兆瓦翻了壹番至215兆瓦。1999年，Navarra 的風力發電量已達西班牙全國的25%。在此基礎上，該地區2000年底的裝機總容量將達486兆瓦。
The largest manufacturer of wind turbines continues to be Gamesa-Vestas, which historically has installed 57% of Spain’s capacity, according to the latest figures from IDEA. This lead is followed by two entirely Spanish companies, Ecotecnia and Made, with 12% and 11%, each. It is important to stress the effect that this industrial and technological development is progressively having on the unemployment level in Spain. In some regions, wind energy investment has made a major contribution to the revitalization of weak economies, providing justification for its promotion by both regional and local government. In the process, any traditional reluctance to accept a new technology has been effectively bypassed.
最大的風力渦輪發動機依然是Gamesa-Vestas；IDEA的最新數據顯示，西班牙57%的風電總裝機容量，均出自它的手筆。緊隨其後的是兩家西班牙本土企業Ecotecnia和Made；它們的市場份額分別達到了12%和11%。需要註意的是，產業和技術的進步也持續降低了西班牙的失業率。在壹些地區，風能投資為振興萎靡不振的經濟作出了貢獻；這也令各級政府積極支持風能發展提供了動力。因此，不願接受新生技術的傳統也被有效地避免了。