Wind Repowering Project in Spain with Waste Recovery
Norway-based company Statkraft, Europe’s largest renewable energy producer, has completed the first phase of the Montes de Cierzo wind repowering project in Navarra. It replaced 44 old turbines with ten new ones, increasing the capacity to produce clean energy while reducing visual impacts and achieving almost full recycling and reuse of the old components.
“I am truly proud of this project. Not only does it deliver clean, affordable energy to industry and consumers at a time when Europe really needs it, it also reduces the impact on local communities and the environment through innovative and thorough focus on design and recycling,” Executive Vice President for Statkraft in Europe, Barbara Flesche, was quoted. She made the announcement at the WindEurope Annual Meeting in Madrid, where Statkraft is a sustainability partner.
As reported by the Norwegian company, through repowering, the installed capacity of the Montes de Cierzo wind farm will increase by 50 percent from 60 to 90 MW, and energy production is estimated to double to 300 GWh/year. Batteries will be added for energy storage with an installed capacity of 14.26 MW and storage capacity of 28.51 MWh. A two-hour charge and discharge duration would be added to ensure more stable supply and mitigate price volatility.
Statkraft stated that the Montes de Cierzo project successfully demonstrates how communities can benefit from co-investment initiatives. This project had become the largest citizen co-investment initiative linked to a renewable energy project in Spain. More than 250 people, mainly residents of the Navarra region where the project is located, had invested five million Euro in the project. “This is part of the government’s initiative to foster local commitment to the energy transition and generate positive impacts for surrounding communities.”
Facts about the project:
The 60 MW Montes de Cierzo wind farm in Tudela, Navarra, was built in 2000. Statkraft has carried out the dismantling works of the first phase of the Montes de Cierzo wind power plant through its contractor Lezama Demolisiones, successfully reusing or recycling close to all of the waste generated:
- More than 1,900 tons of steel
- Almost three tons of aluminum
- Almost four tons of copper
- 300 tons of fiberglass
- 24 tons of PVC cables
- 14 tons of oils
- Gearboxes
- Anemometers and various components
- Equipment and components weighing more than 100 tons will be able to continue operating.
The wind farm is expected to be fully repowered and commissioned by 2027. The second phase of the project involves replacing the remaining 41 turbines with 4 new machines and adding 14.26 MW of battery storage capacity.
(Published in GLOBAL RECYCLING Magazine 2/2026, Page 8, Photo: Statkraft AS)
