Madrid has passed legislation to allow the installation of offshore wind parks along Spain's 4,000 kilometres of coastline.

The move has been enthusiastically applauded by supporters of renewable energies but slammed not only by conservationists who fear the turbines will prove to be a chain of offshore eyesores, but by fishermen as well who are deeply concerned about the effect they will have on the local fishing industry.

There are already scores of land-based wind farms in Spain, making it one of the leading producers of wind energy. While offshore facilities will be much more expensive to set up, they will be far more productive, taking advantage as they do of stronger and steadier coastal breezes.

Spain plans to triple the amount of energy it derives from renewable sources by 2020. This move should go a long way towards ensuring it meets that target.