Norwegian renewable energy company Statkraft has started up its second wind farm in the province of Burgos, located in the municipalities of Los Altos, Padrones de Bureba, Poza de la Sal, Merindad de Río Ubierna and Abajas. With a total of eight wind turbines, the Cernégula wind farm has an installed capacity of 47 MWp.

This project has involved an investment of 54 million euros. It has also contributed to creating 140 jobs since the start of construction in December 2023. The Cernégula wind farm, which is also the company's second in the Castile and León region, has incorporated sustainability standards that guarantee its integration into the natural and social environment. 

Bird monitoring
Among the environmental integration measures implemented for the new facility, one stand-out action involves installing stereoscopic bird monitoring systems, which include a module that automatically stops the wind turbines if any risk of bird collision is detected. In addition, three new seedlings for each affected tree species will be planted in the affected areas included in the reforestation dossiers.

Together with the Castile and León Natural Heritage Foundation, Statkraft has also promoted the creation of a lagoon and a bird observatory inside its perimeter to favour renaturalisation of the vegetation, improve the habitat for aquatic species and encourage scientific research, among other objectives.

Hybridisation project
The Norwegian company is currently developing another renewable project in the province of Burgos, which will be its first wind-solar hybridisation project in Spain. The Abrazadilla project will consist of three wind turbines, with a total installed capacity of 21.6 MWp, and a solar PV plant occupying around 40 hectares, with a total installed capacity of 16.5 MWp.

Statkraft has around 1.4 GWp of power installed and operating in Spain, divided between 11 solar plants and seven wind farms in Galicia, Castile and León, Navarra, Extremadura, Andalusia and Valencia. As the group's President and CEO explained in early February, during the inauguration of its new offices in Madrid, “Spain has incredible solar and wind resources; its success in the energy transition will be important for the growth and uptake of renewable development in Europe”.

In 2024, Statkraft acquired the Spanish company Enerfín. Having had a presence in Spain since 2018, the company currently has 109 MWp under construction through wind projects, in addition to a portfolio of 1.6 GWp provided by projects in different stages of development. The company employs around 300 people in Spain.

^{Photo: Statkraft}