The Spanish wind energy sector has taken another step forward with the provisional allocation of grants for repowering projects promoted by the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE). The call for proposals includes 80 projects totaling 2.4 GW of installed capacity and will mobilize nearly €460 million in subsidies , with the aim of replacing older wind turbines with more efficient technology before the end of 2030.
Beyond the volume of capacity involved, the results allow us to identify the companies that will lead the next wave of repowering projects in Spain. These include Iberdrola, Statkraft, EDP, Enel Green Power, Naturgy, Eni, RWE, and Finerge , as well as other developers with a presence in various autonomous communities.
Furthermore, several of the awarded projects incorporate batteries associated with the wind farms, with capacities that in some cases reach 72 MWh. This trend reflects how repowering is no longer limited solely to the replacement of wind turbines, but is beginning to be combined with solutions designed to provide greater operational flexibility.
Iberdrola stands out for the number of initiatives selected. The company received approval for projects in Castilla-La Mancha, Galicia, and the Basque Country, including the repowering of Muela, Urkilla, Elgea, Monte Treito, Higueruela, Virgen de los Llanos I and II, Cerro de la Punta, and Malefatón, adding 400 MW of new installed capacity. These projects reinforce the company's commitment to upgrading some of the oldest wind farm sites in its portfolio.
Another major player is Statkraft , which has been awarded six projects totaling 211 MW. These include Chantada, Monte Cabeza, Monte Cabeza II, Farelo, Penas Grandes, and Pasada de Tejeda. Several of these facilities are located in Galicia, one of the regions with the highest rate of repowering activity in the country.
EDP secured funding for projects totaling 158 MW in Aragon, including the repowering of the Santa Quiteria wind farm and another project located in the province of Zaragoza. Enel Green Power obtained funding for the repowering of seven wind farms totaling 179.1 MW in Galicia, while Eni Plenitude was among the beneficiaries with the Serra de Outes and Raposeras projects, respectively.
The list also includes Naturgy , which will modernize the Los Llanos wind farm in Málaga; RWE , with the repowering of the La Ciesma wind farm in Grisel, Aragón; and Finerge , which will upgrade the Villalba I wind farm in Tarragona. These are joined by other independent developers who managed to secure projects in a call for proposals characterized by intense competition.
Also noteworthy is the presence of Plenium Partners , through several special purpose vehicles that hold multiple awarded projects. These include Serra da Loba, El Redondal, Carrascal I and II, as well as Cerradilla I and II, solidifying the firm's position among the groups with the largest volume of capacity selected in this call for bids.
The Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE) stated that the €220 million expansion of the new PRTR-REPOTEN 2 call for proposals confirms the sector's interest in accelerating the renewal of Spain's wind farms and strengthens the country's industrial and energy competitiveness.
The new generation of upgrades
However, one of the most significant aspects of the resolution lies not only in the names of the selected companies, but also in the characteristics of the wind turbines that will be replaced. Traditionally, repowering projects focused on machines of less than 1 MW installed during the early stages of Spain's wind energy development.
Continue reading
Now a different phenomenon is beginning to emerge. Among the awarded projects, there is a growing number of wind farms that will replace 1.5 MW and even 2 MW turbines, equipment that for years constituted the technological standard of the industry. This reflects the speed of evolution in the sector and the continuous improvement of currently available wind turbines.
The list includes facilities focused on testing new technologies at full scale. Of particular note is the funding of a 3.6MW Wind Turbine Prototype in Barrax (Albacete), which is symmetrically hybridized with 3.6 MWh of storage. Also included is the partial repowering of the renowned Sotavento Experimental Wind Farm in Lugo, with 8.4 MW.
It is worth remembering that the aid is part of the NextGenerationEU incentive program for innovative renewable energy and storage projects, funded by European funds.
Initially, the call for proposals for wind and hydroelectric repowering projects had a smaller budget, but strong market interest led the government to increase it by an additional €220 million to accommodate a greater number of initiatives. The result is a provisional proposal that will accelerate the modernization of part of Spain's renewable energy fleet over the coming years, with implementation expected to be completed by the end of 2030.
With a target completion date set for the end of 2030, the call for proposals is shaping up to be one of the largest modernization programs for Spain's wind farm sector. At the same time, it offers a snapshot of the companies that will lead this new phase of technological renewal in the industry.
