Source: Energías Renovables Magazine
The Regional Minister of Economy and Industry of the Xunta de Galicia, María Jesús Lorenzana, has announced the creation of the Marine Renewable Energy and Energy Storage Innovation Pole in Galicia, a complex that will have its epicenter in the Innovation and Services Center (CIS) in Ferrol.
This renewable technology center aims to strengthen the value chain and research associated with the sector. Among the main actions planned to be undertaken by this center, the development of a new experimental offshore wind energy area -if the Government finally decides to support the initiative-, the promotion of the existing one in Punta Langosteira, and the implementation of a renewable energy Business Factory in the CIS Ferrol, with a budget of 800,000 euros.
Another of the novelties announced by Lorenzana is the creation of the Zones for Acceleration of Business and Territorial Projects (ZAPES), to which 2.5 million euros will be allocated, and the Rural Industrial Zones (ZIR), for the less populated territory with business potential.
Specifically, in smaller areas, the objective will be for private initiative to develop business land in places where there is a real demand. To meet these needs, ZAPES will be created, which propose a simultaneous and more agile processing of land development and business projects, in those cases where the territorial scope includes at least one strategic industrial project and where, in addition, there is a remainder of business land for future expansions and new industries that want to be implemented. These areas are also expected to host facilities for the use of renewable energy sources and energy storage.
Another of the figures will be the ZIR, for the less populated territory and with business potential. These areas will be designed for smaller industrial activities and land requirements (with a maximum area of 5 hectares) and will be deployed in municipalities with less than 20,000 inhabitants. This decision meets the demands of many rural municipalities, which do not require large areas of business zones, but areas where small companies or workshops can be established. Along with this, the budgets also include an item of 2 million euros for the modernization of rural service stations, through a line of aid for their digitalization.