Montes de Cierzo Wind Farms | Navarra
Originally commissioned in August 2000 with an installed capacity of 61 MW, the Montes de Cierzo wind farm is undergoing a two-phase repowering journey that will increase its energy production but with 82% fewer turbines.
Clean Energy
When first developed, Montes de Cierzo totalled 61 megawatts of installed power generating 144.8 GWh, making it capable of supplying clean, indigenous and affordable energy to more than 41,000 homes in Navarra. The farm’s operations also helped to avoid the emission of nearly 40,000 tonnes of CO2.
Fewer turbines, more energy:
repowering Montes de Cierzo
As the farm approaches a quarter of a century in operation, it also reaches another milestone: the beginning of its repowering. This will happen over two phases. Phase one of the farm’s development will see 44 original turbines replaced with just 10. Once the full project is completed, however, the total change will result in 84 turbines being replaced by just 15.
Surprisingly, though the total number of turbines will fall by more than more than 82%, the farm will actually produce more energy than before for Spanish households and businesses. Ultimately, the repowered farm’s installed capacity will jump from 61MW to 90MW.
From a circular economy perspective, the project is taking an aggressive approach to the management of waste, with a goal to recover, recycle, and reuse 100% of the materials and waste generated.
Fewer turbines, more energy and zero waste? It’s a pretty neat trick.
Montes de Cierzo Wind Farm turbines
Location
The wind farms are located in the municipality of Tudela, in the Autonomous Community of Navarra.