As shown in the graph, by the end of 2024, Spain had 1.4 GW of wind capacity installed that was 25 years old or more, and about 8.4 GW with 20 years of operational life.

One of the latest repowering projects took place in Ávila, replacing 22 machines of 660 kW each with 4 state-of-the-art turbines of 6 MW per turbine.

Currently, Spain has 1,371 wind farms distributed across more than 860 municipalities, equipped with 22,210 turbines.

However, a significant portion of this installed capacity—1.4 GW older than 25 years and 8.4 GW older than 20 years—is eligible for repowering, replacing old turbines with modern technologies, maximising efficiency, and reducing costs.

Recent Repowering Examples

Among the notable projects is the El Cabrito wind farm in Cádiz, operated by Acciona Energía.

This farm, which previously operated with 90 obsolete turbines (330 kW each), was renovated with 12 modern turbines that maintain the same total capacity (30 MW) but increase production by 16%.

Additionally, 3.4 kilometres of access roads have been removed, reducing visual and acoustic impact while increasing the distance between turbines to facilitate bird migration.

Another example is the Tahivilla wind farm, also managed by Acciona Energía in Tarifa, Cádiz.

In this case, 98 old turbines will be replaced by 13 modern turbines, increasing the installed capacity from 78.4 MW to 84.4 MW and boosting generation by 72%, which is equivalent to the consumption of 73,000 homes.

Everything Transforms

Repowering not only improves energy efficiency but also reduces environmental impact.

Modern turbines generate more energy with fewer units, decrease land use, and present a lower risk to local wildlife due to slower blade speeds.

Willstedt emphasises that this approach allows “the use of existing infrastructure, such as evacuation lines, avoiding the need for new construction.”

A critical aspect of the environmental analysis is the evaluation of avoided CO₂ emissions, which would continue if repowering were not carried out with older systems. Additionally, equipment renewal can improve social acceptance by reducing visual and auditory impacts.

Regulatory Challenges

Despite its benefits, repowering faces administrative and regulatory barriers that need to be addressed in order to continue positioning the market.

According to the Director of Energy Policies and Climate Change at the AEE, “projects must go through the same process as new wind farms, which generates uncertainty and delays their implementation.”

Moreover, in regions like Galicia, precautionary suspensions hinder the planning process for operators.

Therefore, greater coordination is required between central administration and regional governments to standardise environmental evaluation criteria and streamline authorisation processes.

European regulations, particularly Regulation (EU) 2022/2577, aim to simplify these procedures by limiting environmental impact studies to significant changes and establishing a maximum six-month timeframe for authorisations.

This framework presents an opportunity to promote repowering in Spain, although it still needs to be translated into effective national policies.

Repowering is becoming a strategic solution to increase renewable generation and achieve the goals of the PNIEC 2023-2030, which aims to cover 48% of demand with clean energy by 2030.

In this regard, Willstedt concludes: “Repowering represents an opportunity to optimise resources, improve environmental impact, and foster industrial and social development in rural areas.”