Renewable energy, especially wind and solar power, has grown significantly in Spain in recent decades. Approximately 35% of Spain's electricity now comes from renewable sources, creating over 120,000-200,000 jobs related to renewable energy by 2008. The largest renewable energy sources in Spain are wind power, hydraulic power, geothermal power, and solar power. For example, the El Marquesado wind farm near Guadix employed 1,000 people during construction and now employs 50 people, while also supporting additional indirect jobs through related local industries. Solar power similarly supports thousands of direct and indirect jobs throughout Spain. Renewable energy careers in Spain include engineering, manufacturing, installation, and other vocational fields and are expected to continue

1. Careers related to
Renewable Energy in
Spain
By Paola Ortega, Pascual Porcel and Sheila Romero

2. 
From the late 20th century, renewable
energies have been boosted thanks to the
policies of the different governments.
Nowadays, 35% of the electricity used in
Spain is produced by renewable energy. In
2008, it was estimated that between
120000 and 200000 people had jobs
related to these sources of energy.

3. In this chart, you can see the breakdown of total electricity
generation in Spain. In spite of the rising importance of
renewable energy, we still have a long way to go. Whereas
Greenpeace estimates that solar power could provide seven
times for the electricity we need in the whole country, in
2011 it only represented 4% of it.

4. The most important types of renewable energy
in Spain are:
-Wind power.
-Hydraulic power.
-Geothermical power.
-Solar power.

5. Wind power
It is the most important renewable energy in our
country, in terms of the total installed capacity
of all the wind power plants.

6. In the area of Guadix, we have the wind power plant
of “El Marquesado”. 1000 people worked in its
constructions, and when it was inaugurated in
2008, it was the second biggest wind power plant in
Europe. Nowadays, 50 people work in the plant, but
there are other people whose jobs are related to it.
For instance, there is a company with 450 factory
workers that make wind turbine blades for “El
Marquesado”.

7. Hydraulic power
Because of our dry climate, in our area water
is mostly used for human consumption, for
irrigation and for other agricultural purposes,
and not so much for the production of
energy. However, hydraulic power is an
important source of renewable energy in
other parts of Spain.

8. Geothermical power
In Spain, geothermical power is perhaps the less
known source of renewable energy. However, for
the last two years a company has been building
the first geothermical power plant of our
country between Darro and Guadix, just five
minutes away from Purullena! Between 50 and
60 direct jobs, and many more indirect ones, will
be created in the near future.

9. Solar power
It has got a great potential in our country, but it
is still vastly wasted.
In 2005, Spain became the first country in the
world to demand the instalation of solar panels
in new buildings. Many people work installing
these panels, or teaching people how to do it.

10. Solar power is very important in the
area of Guadix. Andasol, the biggest
solar power plant in Europe, is located
there. 50 people work there, but once
again, many other indirect jobs have
been created, bringing richness to our
area.

11. We interviewed an employee of the solar power
plant of “El Marquesado” (also near Purullena)
-When was the plant built?
Although the project dates back to 2001, it was finally built
in 2006.
- How much energy is produced by the solar power plant?
More than 300 million kWh every year.
- How does it affect the environment?
It helps avoid the emision of 170 million kg. of CO2 to the
atmosphere. Thanks to it, our solar power plant contributes
to the observance of the aims in relation to the reduction of
greenhouse gas emissions.

12. -How is electricity generated?
Solar panels transform non-polluting,
renewable solar power in electricity,
thanks to a field full of mobile PTCs
(parabolic through collectors).
- How does the solar power plant
affect the population? It provides
electricity for more than 100.000
homes, and it helps create and
maintain many jobs in the area.

13. -Why is located near Guadix?
- It is an ideal spot, close to a high voltage line,
with lots of water coming down from the Sierra
Nevada (Snowy Mountains) that we use for the
refrigeration system of the plant. At the same
time, it is a tableau with many hours of sunlight
a day, many sunny days per year, and it is well
connected to important centres of population.

14. In Spain, if you want to work in the field of
renewable energy, you have several
options.
For instance, you can get a degree in
Engineering at University, or you can take
vocational training to become a factory
worker, or a solar pannel installer.
Doubtless, these types of jobs will become
more frequent and important in the next
few years, so what about bearing them in
mind when having to choose a career?