4. Discussion
4.1. New SEA zoning analysis
Recent MPA designations in Spain resulted in a major expansion
of the SEA Exclusion zone, mostly at the expense of Suitable
with conditions areas. Almost 55% of the new MPA area occurred in
such zone. However, Suitable areas did not decrease much, still
allowing for a wide potential sustainable expansion of offshore
wind energy in the country under adequate physical conditions.
This expansion could theoretically exceed the Spanish target of
750 MW of installed offshore power by 2020 [34] and place the
country on the right path to meeting its environmental and renewable
energy obligations under the European law [11,12,15] and
the Climate and Energy Framework for 2030 [17] while at the