SÓLIDA presents its White Paper on Wind Repowering

The Iberian wind fleet is at a pivotal moment. More than half of the turbines installed in Spain and Portugal are over 15 years old, and a significant share has already surpassed the 20-year mark. This technological ageing results in lower performance, higher operational costs, and reduced competitiveness compared with newer wind farms equipped with more efficient turbines.

In this context, repowering — replacing old wind turbines with newer, more powerful models — emerges as the most effective way to increase production, reduce operational costs, and extend the lifetime of existing assets.

The evolution of European and national regulations is establishing repowering as a strategic priority. Directive (EU) 2023/2413 introduces more streamlined procedures, a single digital portal, and permitting timelines that may be shortened to as little as six months. Early adopters such as Germany already demonstrate the impact of this regulatory shift: over 1 GW of repowered capacity, far exceeding the amount decommissioned, providing clear evidence that regulatory clarity accelerates the modernisation of the wind fleet. Meanwhile, both Spain and Portugal are adapting these provisions, which will enable faster procedures, greater certainty, and a reduced administrative burden.

In Spain, progress is already evident. Galicia has established that wind farms over 25 years old must submit a repowering or decommissioning plan within a maximum period of 18 months (Law 5/2024). In addition, Royal Decree-Law 7/2025 introduces the official definition of repowering and requires the development of a National Roadmap to align it with European objectives. Portugal is advancing in parallel. New guidance from the DGEG allows capacity increases of up to 20% and exempts projects from a full Environmental Impact Assessment when the upgrades remain within the wind farm’s existing footprint. This provides greater flexibility and legal certainty for operators.

To respond to this new landscape, SÓLIDA has developed its own methodology that combines technical precision, financial robustness and full alignment with international standards. Instead of relying on measurement masts, additional permits or months of on-site campaigns, often costing between €120,000 – €250,000€, SÓLIDA makes use of the SCADA data from the turbines themselves, which provide real, continuous and representative operational information for the entire wind farm.
The analysis is structured in accordance with the FGW Technical Guideline Part 6 (Rev. 12, 2023), the European reference for bankable energy assessments based on operational data, and complies with the quality and uncertainty-management principles defined in IEC 61400 and MEASNET.

The result is a fully bankable repowering energy assessment, suitable for investors, financial institutions and regulatory authorities. By relying on real operational data rather than new measurement campaigns, this methodology enables:

• Shorten timelines.
• Reduce costs.
• Avoid additional permits and equipment.
• Detailed view of the wind farm’s full potential.

Thanks to this approach, SÓLIDA provides a faster, more cost-effective, and rigorous way to identify and maximise repowering opportunities in any wind farm.

For more information: Wind Repowering White Paper – SÓLIDA