Repowering

Q ENERGY has been​ a pioneer in​ developing ​onshore wind farms since 1999. Nowadays, many of the earlier windfarms ​surpass 20 years of operation. While they ​reach the end of their commercial lifespan and turbines no longer meet today’s performance standards, the decommissioning of the old turbines does not necessarily mean the end of the wind farm.  

​​​For outdated onshore wind farms, we consider three primary strategies:​ prolonging their life through intensive maintenance, decommissioning, or repowering. Repowering​ is a focus area for Q ENERGY, as it is an opportunity to increasing wind energy production at top-notch locations without having to occupy new land areas.​ ​This process involves​ replacing ​older ​wind turbines with newer, more advanced models​,​ ​significantly boosting ​performance and energy ​production​​. Our commitment to repowering has established Q ENERGY as one of the leaders in this field in France.​

Q ENERGY began working on wind farm renewals in 2016, with the repowering of Souleilla-Corbières, the first wind farm developed and built by Q ENERGY in 1999.

Located in a Météo France radar protection zone, which restricts the configuration and dimensions of the 16 wind turbines in the park, Q ENERGY has opted for an "identical" renewal, i.e. with no change in dimensions but with a request for an increase in capacity to 24 MW compared with the previous 20.8 MW. This change leads to an increase in annual production of almost 20 % (11.5 GWh/year). 

After just three months of appraisal, the repowering project was officially approved by the authorities in early 2018. Cleared of all appeals and winner of a CRE call for tenders at the end of 2019, Q ENERGY began the dismantling phase in summer 2022. About a year later, the repowering was completed. Since October 2023, the wind farm is officially back in operation.

​​At Q ENERGY, ​repowering our onshore wind farms in France​ is conducted with a strong commitment to​ the principles of the circular economy. ​A remarkable ​99.4% of components are either recycled or reused at the end of their operational life​,​​ exemplifying our dedication to environmental sustainability during the repowering process.​ 

​​While repowering ​the Souleilla-Corbières wind farm​, we achieved 100% recycling and reuse of the steel components​. Some parts of the wind turbines were sold as spare parts, some of the rotor blades were donated to a local artist and the rest were sold to create innovative furniture. The old foundations have not gone to waste either. Around one-third of the concrete was reused in the foundations of the new wind farm, while the remaining portion has been repurposed by a local construction company for an industrial platform construction project.