The judgment issued last Friday by the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) marks a turning point for wind energy development in Galicia.

In response to a preliminary question raised by the High Court of Justice of Galicia (TSXG), the European court concluded that EU law does not require a new public consultation phase following the inclusion of sectoral reports during the environmental evaluation process.

“EU law does not provide that the public has the right to submit observations on those reports once published. What matters is that the public can participate at an early and meaningful stage,” the CJEU stated in its ruling.

The decision had been long awaited by the sector, as it addresses one of the main legal disputes that had halted the progress of 92 wind farms in Galicia, with a combined capacity exceeding 2,500 MW. According to the regional government, 97 projects are currently subject to legal proceedings.

The Galician energy sector warns that, although the recent court ruling sets a legal precedent, key steps remain to fully reactivate the affected projects. “Although the ruling opens the legal pathway, the unblocking will not be automatic,” states Oriol Sarmiento, General Manager of CLUERGAL.

In conversation with Strategic Energy Europe, Sarmiento emphasises that it will be essential for the High Court of Justice of Galicia to swiftly resume proceedings, lifting the precautionary suspensions, and for the administrative procedures to be carried out properly and efficiently so that the impacted projects can effectively move forward.

From the industry’s perspective, the Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE) welcomed the decision as “a key step towards restoring legal certainty and advancing the energy transition.”

The association recalled that Galicia had become one of the most affected regions by the massive judicialisation of projects, with direct impacts on the value chain, employment and climate targets.

The Xunta de Galicia, meanwhile, stated that the CJEU ruling reinforces the current administrative model and expedites the timeline for the TSXG to resolve pending appeals.

“This ruling supports our position and allows us to unlock strategic projects essential for Galicia’s economic and industrial development,” regional government sources said.

However, environmental organisations and political opposition expressed discontent with the decision. Groups such as Petón do Lobo and Adega warned that the ruling does not address deeper concerns raised in legal claims, such as project fragmentation or the lack of cumulative impact assessments.

The Galician Nationalist Bloc (BNG) stressed that the current wind energy model in the region still fails to ensure meaningful public consultation and territorial benefits.

The urgency of unblocking

Beyond the political debate, the CJEU’s decision brings legal clarity and greater predictability for developers and investors. If the stalled projects are reactivated, over €3 billion in private investment could be mobilised and up to 20,000 jobs created, according to regional media estimates.

The boost could not come at a better time. According to the 2023–2030 Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC), Spain must reach 62 GW of installed wind capacity by 2030, requiring the addition of around 4.9 GW per year starting in 2025.

Currently, the country has 32,610 MW of installed wind capacity, meaning it must nearly double that figure in just five years. As of July 2025, only 1,803 MW of new capacity have been connected—well below the required pace.

In this context, the judicial paralysis of projects poses a critical barrier to achieving climate commitments and maintaining the country’s industrial competitiveness. Galicia, with some of the best wind resources in Spain, plays a central role in that roadmap.

From the sector’s perspective, it is expected that this ruling will set a precedent for other regions facing similar challenges and help accelerate the permitting of key projects at a time when delivering on the PNIEC targets demands a realistic yet firm acceleration of renewable deployment.