Repowering Wind Turbines

October 30, 2023

 

Wind turbines have a lifespan of 15 to 25 years, but “repowering” or replacing old turbines with more efficient models can extend the lifespan by as many as five years and increase production, in some cases using less land.

The repowering market is set to grow significantly in the near future in Europe, where the first installations date back to the 1990s, with Denmark as a pioneering country.

ENGIE aims for 58% renewable capacity in its energy production by 2030. We support regulatory initiatives to strengthen end-of-life management and adopt the following strategy:

• Extend the lifespan of the turbine when possible.
• If this option is not economically viable, replace the turbine through a repowering operation.
• As a last resort, dismantle the turbine without replacement.

In the last two cases, ENGIE recycles an average of 90% of the components, a ratio expected to increase in the coming years.