(Photos by EVE)
The Vice President of the European Commission in charge of the Energy Union, Maroš Šefčovič, has visited the Mutriku wave energy plant in Spain.
Šefčovič visited the Mutirku wave plant as part of the Energy Union tour organized by the ESADE Center for Global Economy and Geopolitics (ESADEgeo) in collaboration with the Representation of the European Commission in Spain.
During the visit to Mutirku, Šefčovič was accompanied by Deputy Minister Javier Zarraonaindia, Director of the Basque energy agency (EVE) Iñigo Ansola, and the Basque government’s Director of Energy Aitor Oregi.
Earlier today Šefčovič said that renewable energy could create up to 100,000 new jobs in Spain and the industry could increase the GDP by almost €12 billion by 2030.
He acknowledged, however, that this depends on better interconnection with Europe, a common market that allows the free movement of energy and, consequently, more competitive prices.
The Mutriku power plant, developed by EVE, is located at Bay of Biscay, Mutriku, Spanish Basque Country.
It was opened in 2011, and houses oscillating water column (OWC) wave energy devices with the total installed capacity of 296kW.
The plant has completed its first five years of operation last year in June, having produced and exported over 1.3GWh of power to the Basque grid.