The Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE) is once again hosting its Annual Wind Horizon Congress 2025, gathering over 300 industry professionals.
Rocío Sicre, President of AEE, and Miguel Rodrigo, Director General of the Institute for the Diversification and Saving of Energy (IDAE), opened the event by highlighting the key role of wind power as the leading technology in the electricity mix, “using technology made here, in Europe and in Spain. Wind energy represents a strategic commitment to an industrial and technological line that builds the Spain brand,” Sicre emphasises.
“We have a robust industrial value chain, with over 270 industrial sites facing a future full of challenges. The evolution of technology costs and the need for a level playing field between Europe, China, and the United States are issues that must be addressed with intelligence and pragmatism, but also with determination and strength in the international arena,” asserts the AEE President.
In 2024, only 1,188 MW of wind capacity was installed, whereas over 5 GW per year is needed to meet the targets set by the PNIEC. The current pace and short-to-medium-term outlook make achieving these targets unrealistic. “The key message is not to meet them at all costs, but to do so sustainably, with balance across all vectors: generation, demand and manageability, and without compromising other factors such as territorial acceptance, legal certainty for projects, or the regulatory stability needed for investment decisions,” Sicre states.
Moving forward, reducing administrative lead times and complying with the Renewables Directive, aligning evaluation criteria between regional governments and the Ministry, and implementing the Overriding Public Interest clause established in Europe are essential. This concept should have been transposed and in effect since February 2024, yet there are still doubts about its implementation in Spain. This must be urgently resolved, as it was created as an energy security mechanism to facilitate the supply of competitive, domestic renewable energy to EU Member States in a geopolitically tense global context.
Regarding the 28 April blackout, Sicre remarks: “There’s a lot at stake for our country, and the media and political battles are clearly detrimental to attracting investment. Moreover, the reinforced system operation – which we don’t know how long will last – is clearly penalising our electricity costs and thus our competitiveness. In the wind sector, we are certain that our technology and its capabilities are key to Spain and are in no way a source of instability for the electricity system. Wind power can provide services that ensure system security in its operation. We’ve demonstrated this for years – at times with penetration levels exceeding 60% – without ever endangering system safety. To adopt measures and prevent future events, joint efforts and transparent teamwork are required. But it’s also important not to rush into imposing sweeping technical requirements on all operators, especially when they’re not yet mature and may end up delaying the energy transition.”
Meanwhile, Miguel Rodrigo, IDAE’s Director General, declares: “Wind energy has been a pioneer in renewable deployment and the first for which IDAE has enabled circular economy strategies, through the Circular Repowering Programme, which reduced 1,205 turbines to just 167 and upgraded capacity from 600 kW to 5 MW. This initiative also triggered the construction of Spain’s first six wind blade recycling plants. Now we’re taking a step further with a comprehensive vision of what the country needs to incorporate circular economy principles across the renewable transition. We’re currently working on a future support scheme (the RENOCICLA programme).”
A congress to assess the wind sector’s future horizon
Two days of sessions with over 50 speakers, 9 panels, and 4 keynotes focused on topics including wind industry competitiveness, the post-blackout scenario, secure system operation, financing, trading and energy markets, balancing services, storage, project permitting, repowering, regional development, biodiversity coexistence, and analysis of the roles of the US, China, and Europe in the global wind landscape.
Following the first day, the Wind Gala and the EOLO 2025 Awards will take place, recognising achievements in Photography, Innovation, Rural Integration, Micro-stories, and Wind Reels.
Julián Fuentecilla, Mayor of Soba (Cantabria), recipient of the EOLO Award for Rural Wind Integration, explains that wind development has “enabled countless works that have greatly benefited Soba, such as village rehabilitation, major water supply and sanitation projects, and the renovation of public buildings into socio-cultural centres. It has adapted and modernised our rural environment, improving residents’ lives.” Regarding the future, Fuentecilla adds: “The Cañoneras wind farm by Iberdrola is planning an expansion, which we hope happens soon as it will bring more resources and infrastructure improvements that will benefit our community.” Soba is Cantabria’s third-largest municipality and the leading region for livestock in the area.
Soba is also one of 10 municipalities featured in the book “Wind Neighbours”, recently published by AEE, which offers an intimate look at coexistence with wind power and illustrates how turbines form part of the physical, social, and economic fabric of many Spanish communities.
VIP sponsors of the Annual Wind Horizon include EDP Renewables, Engie, Fe Energy, Hitachi Energy, Iberdrola, Naturgy, Repsol, Siemens Gamesa, and Vestas.
The Wind Gala is sponsored by ACCIONA Energía.
Additional sponsors include Bioseco, Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners, Enercon, GDES Wind, LevelTen Energy, Statkraft, SPIE Ereda, and Verbund.
REOLTEC is also participating.
Media partners for this edition include Energética 21, Energías Renovables, FuturEnergy, and Strategic Energy.
