Spain: Doubling wind capacity by 2030, a high-risk bet

Spain aims to double its installed wind energy capacity to reach 62 GW by 2030. However, slow administrative processes, local opposition, and declining energy demand threaten the achievement of this ambitious goal.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90£/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90£/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 £/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99£/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 £/year from the second year.

Spain aims to double its installed wind energy capacity from 31 GW to 62 GW by 2030. However, the country faces many obstacles that could jeopardize this ambitious target. In 2023, only 607 MW were added, and projections for 2024 indicate a growth of approximately 1 GW, a pace far below the level needed to meet government targets.

Administrative delays and local opposition

Wind farm projects in Spain are slowed down by lengthy and complex administrative procedures. Between 2020 and 2022, the average time for obtaining permits increased significantly, creating a bottleneck that blocked several projects. Developers face administrative hurdles that delay the start of work for several years, impacting the expansion of installed capacity.

In parallel, regions like Galicia have seen growing opposition from local populations. These resistances are primarily driven by environmental and landscape concerns. Although these oppositions remain localized, they complicate the implementation of new infrastructures, especially in regions with high wind potential.

Impact of declining electricity demand

In 2022 and 2023, electricity demand in Spain decreased, putting pressure on electricity prices and increasing uncertainty about the returns on investments in new capacity. This situation is concerning because it reduces the profitability of wind projects, discouraging investors from committing to new developments.

Initiatives to revive wind development

In March 2024, the Spanish government and the Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE) signed the “Spanish Wind Charter” at the annual WindEurope event in Bilbao. This charter identifies six strategic actions to support the wind sector and unblock pending projects:

1. Improve visibility and planning in the sector.
2. Optimize auctions by introducing criteria not solely based on price.
3. Coordinate efforts among wind energy stakeholders.
4. Promote long-term agreements to strengthen regulatory stability.
5. Monitor international trade practices to protect the market from unfair competition.
6. Strengthen Spain’s wind equipment manufacturing capacity to reduce dependence on imports.

Economic weight of the wind sector in Spain

Wind energy represents about 0.5% of Spain’s GDP, or nearly 6 billion euros per year. The sector employs over 40,000 skilled workers and places Spain as the fifth-largest exporter of wind technology worldwide. With exports reaching 2.5 billion euros per year, Spain positions itself among the world’s leading players in this industry. Furthermore, the country ranks sixth globally for wind energy patents, illustrating its capacity for innovation in this field.

Outlook and needs to meet the targets

To reach the 62 GW target by 2030, Spain must increase its deployment rate fivefold, from about 1 GW added per year to nearly 5 GW per year. The project pipeline under construction is around 40 GW, but their realization will depend on a significant improvement in the regulatory framework and increased investment in existing projects. Additionally, the development of offshore wind, currently underexploited in Spain, could play a key role in complementing onshore deployment, reducing pressure on land-based projects, and meeting growing electricity production needs.

Shell U.S. president stated that cancelling fully permitted wind projects severely undermines investor confidence in the energy sector.
TotalEnergies could bring EDF into the Centre Manche 2 offshore wind project after RWE’s planned withdrawal, strengthening the industrial and financial prospects of the two neighboring parks scheduled for 2032.
Envision Energy has signed an agreement to equip Kazakhstan’s largest wind power project, marking a strategic step in energy cooperation with TotalEnergies, Samruk-Energo and KazMunayGas.
The Swedish energy group aims to produce 9TWh per year with its Storlandet project, intended to meet rising demand from the mining and steel industries in the north of the country.
The two regional utilities join a JERA-led consortium to support the operation of the Ishikari Bay offshore wind farm, which entered service in early 2024.
Energy group Axpo is considering a new installation of three wind turbines in Wil, aimed at powering around 5,000 households and strengthening Switzerland's winter electricity production.
Encavis strengthens its wind portfolio in Germany with the acquisition of a Schierenberg project and the signing of four new partnerships with ABO Energy, for a joint total capacity of 106 MW.
Boralex rolls out an energy assistance scheme for residents near its wind and solar farms, with a pilot project launched in two communes in Haute-Loire.
Eiffage, through its Belgian subsidiary Smulders, will build three electrical substations to connect offshore wind farms in Brittany and the Mediterranean, under a contract exceeding €1.5bn ($1.59bn).
Envision Energy has published an environmental product declaration for two of its turbines, a milestone certified to ISO standards aimed at strengthening its position in international wind markets.
Yaway, a brand of Kallista Energy, commissions in Breteuil a very high-power charging station directly connected to wind turbines, offering a price of €0.30/kWh ($0.32/kWh) and a maximum power of 400 kW, with no subscription.
Fortescue has selected Envision Energy to supply next-generation turbines in Australia, the first step in a project targeting 2 to 3 GW of renewable generation backed by batteries.
Singapore-based developer Vena Energy has launched operations at its third wind power plant in Japan, located in Saikai, Nagasaki Prefecture, with a grid-connected capacity of 7.5 MW.
Ørsted and Korea South-East Power Co. (KOEN) have signed a memorandum of understanding to explore joint development of the 1.4 GW Incheon offshore wind project, located off South Korea’s west coast.
RWE has finalised the installation of all 72 monopiles at the 1.1 GW Thor offshore wind farm off the Danish coast, marking a key milestone ahead of secondary structure and turbine installation scheduled for 2026.
The Bundesnetzagentur awarded 376 projects totalling 3.45 GW, with a weighted average price of 6.57 cents per kilowatt-hour, without reducing the volume despite an undersubscription risk.
Alternergy strengthens its portfolio by acquiring two wind projects from CleanTech in Quezon Province, expanding its growth strategy beyond the 500MW mark.
Orsted has resumed work on its Revolution Wind offshore wind farm, previously halted by federal authorities, after a court ruling allowed construction to continue despite ongoing legal action from the U.S. government.
No candidate submitted a final offer for the 1 GW project off Oléron Island, despite an initial shortlist of nine consortiums including major European energy groups.
TotalEnergies and RWE secure the Centre Manche 2 contract, France’s largest offshore wind project to date, with an estimated investment of €4.5bn ($4.82bn).