Galicia Mandates Replacement of Ageing Wind Turbines After 25 Years

Wind parks operating in the Spanish region of Galicia will be obliged to replace ageing turbines after 25 years under a package of measures approved by the regional parliament on Tuesday. This move has sparked an outcry from the renewables industry.

The new rules, set to take effect on Jan. 1, mandate that developers must replace 25-year-old turbines with new, more efficient and taller wind mills, or risk losing their operating permits. This decision marks the first of its kind in Europe and has raised concerns within the industry.

Industry association WindEurope voiced their concerns, stating that the decision to upgrade assets should traditionally be left to developers. Critics argue that these measures could hinder the development of essential renewable projects and create legal uncertainty within the sector.

Responding to criticism, the regional government’s industry secretary, Nicolas Vazquez, defended the measures as “proportional” and in line with the permits originally granted to developers. Vazquez emphasized that the 25-year threshold will initiate a flexible process that will span several years, ensuring that no wind park will be dismantled before reaching the ages of 31 or 32. He also noted that upgrades may be deemed unfeasible for technical or environmental reasons, in which case they will not proceed.

In addition to the turbine replacement mandate, the package of measures includes temporary provisions for new wind parks to sell part of their energy to local industries through long-term contracts known as power purchasing agreements. Vazquez stated that these temporary measures will be in place until Galicia updates its wind power plan, a process expected to take three years.

The Spanish wind lobby AEE and other industry groups have expressed concerns that the new rules will hinder the sector, increase litigation, and fragment the market. However, Vazquez assured that the measures on power purchasing agreements are less stringent and only apply to new projects.

It is estimated that approximately 3,000 turbines in Galicia will need to meet the upgrade requirements over the next five years, highlighting the significant impact of these new regulations on the region’s wind energy sector.