Statkraft’s Montes de Cierzo repowering hits 98% waste recovery and doubles output

TL;DR Statkraft’s Montes de Cierzo repowering in Navarra will boost wind capacity by 50% and double annual output while recycling 98% of turbine waste, backed by local citizen investment and EU funding.

Context Spain’s aging wind fleet needs modernization to meet renewable targets. Repowering replaces old turbines with larger, more efficient models and often adds storage to smooth supply. The Montes de Cierzo site in Navarra is undergoing a two‑phase upgrade that also emphasizes circular‑economy practices and community ownership.

Key Facts The first phase will increase the farm’s capacity from 60 MW to 90 MW, a 50% rise, and raise yearly generation to an estimated 300 GWh—double the previous output. Batteries with 14.26 MW of power and 28.51 MWh of storage will provide two‑hour charge‑discharge cycles to stabilize the grid. Over 250 Navarra residents have invested €5 million, making this Spain’s largest citizen‑co‑funded renewable project. Public support includes up to €4.6 million from the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE) under the Ministry for Ecological Transition, financed by Next Generation EU’s Circular Repowering call. Statkraft reports that the repowering achieves 98% waste recovery by recycling blades, steel, and concrete instead of sending them to landfill. The full repowering is slated for completion and commissioning by 2027, with a second phase swapping the remaining 41 turbines for four new units and adding the same battery capacity.

What It Means The project shows how technical upgrades, storage, and local financing can combine to raise clean‑energy yields while minimizing environmental impact. Its high waste‑recovery rate sets a benchmark for circular practices in the wind industry. Observers should watch the 2027 commissioning date, the performance of the added battery system, and whether similar citizen‑funded repowering models spread to other Spanish regions.