Catalonia plans to cut the number of wind turbines by 68% over the next decade, while increasing overall energy production by 31%, according to a new government report.
The report, called Renovation of Wind Farms, was commissioned by Catalan President Salvador Illa and reviewed by the Catalan government at its meeting on Tuesday, 9 June 2026.
The region currently has 756 turbines across 52 wind farms, with 1,418 megawatts of installed wind power. The study says 46 of those 52 farms will reach the end of their working life within the next 10 years, so repowering will be needed to keep renewable generation growing. For background on the government’s energy policy, see Catalan News.
Many of the older sites were built more than 20 years ago and use turbines that generate less than 1 MW each, far below the current standard of around 6 MW per turbine. The report says replacing them with newer models would leave Catalonia with 240 turbines, a drop of 526 units.
Energy output is forecast to rise from 2,470 GWh to 3,244 GWh a year. The report also says installed power could be maintained, or even increase by up to 5%, while the visual impact on the landscape would be reduced through fewer, more widely spaced turbines.
The areas most affected would be Terra Alta, Baix Ebre, Anoia, Garrigues and Baix Camp, where the reduction in wind turbines could exceed 67%. The government also plans to create a working group led by the Directorate General of Energy, with a monitoring board involving the administration, the sector and developers, to speed up processing and coordinate the renovation effort.
When authorising new wind farms, the government says it will take cumulative impact into account and give priority to environmental criteria when old farms are dismantled, including site restoration and material management.