Bierzo Wind I Cancels 42 MW Wind Farm: Impact on the Renewable Sector in León and Ourense

Key data

The wind sector loses 42 MW of planned capacity in the northwestern peninsula. The General Directorate of Energy Policy and Mines has formally accepted the withdrawal of Ekain Renovables, SL, for the "Bierzo Wind I" wind farm, according to the Resolution of June 1, 2026 published in the BOE on November 5, 2026. The project has not been able to overcome the environmental barrier or maintain active its grid permits, making it a textbook case of the two main bottlenecks that are currently slowing down wind energy in Spain.

What does this regulation establish?

The resolution formalizes the closure of the administrative authorization and construction authorization file for the "Bierzo Wind I" wind farm. The facts that led to this closure occurred in this order:

• In December 2025, Red Eléctrica de España declared access and connection permits to the grid expired associated with the project.
• In March 2026, an unfavorable environmental impact declaration (EIA) was issued, concluding that the project would cause significant adverse impacts on protected species and the landscape.
• Also in March 2026, Ekain Renovables, SL formally requested the closure of the procedure and expressly accepted the proposed resolution.
• The resolution further specifies that the Bierzo Wind I file was separated from the joint file it shared with Bierzo Wind II, so this closure affects exclusively Bierzo Wind I.

The result is the definitive loss of processing for this project: there is no possibility of reactivating it under the same file. Any future attempt to develop wind capacity in that area would require starting a completely new procedure.

Economic and operational impact

The cancellation of Bierzo Wind I has economic and operational consequences at several levels:

• For Ekain Renovables, SL: All processing costs invested to date are lost — environmental studies, engineering, administrative fees and permit management — with no possibility of recovery through this file.
• Lost renewable capacity: The 42 MW canceled represents energy that will not be incorporated into the grid in León and Ourense under this project. To put it in perspective: a 42 MW wind farm can supply approximately 25,000 to 30,000 homes per year under average wind conditions.
• Expired grid permits: The expiration of access and connection permits declared by Red Eléctrica in December 2025 means that the connection node is freed up. Other promoters could request it, but will have to compete in new allocation processes.
• Bierzo Wind II is not affected: The separation of the joint file protects the processing of Bierzo Wind II, which continues its process independently.

Who does it affect?

• Ekain Renovables, SL: Direct promoter of the canceled project. Loses the investment in processing and must reconsider its strategy in the area.
• Wind promoters with projects in León and Ourense: The release of the connection node may open opportunities, but also highlights the risks of the current permit model.
• Investors in renewables with exposure to projects in processing: A case that reinforces the need for environmental and grid due diligence before committing capital.
• Advisors and consultants for energy projects: Must review the status of EIAs and access permits for their project portfolios.
• Local administrations in León and Ourense: The cancellation affects energy planning and local economic development linked to the project.

Practical example

Suppose a developer has in its portfolio a wind project with characteristics similar to Bierzo Wind I: 40-45 MW, in a mountainous area of the northwestern peninsula, with access and connection permits requested more than three years ago.

The case of Bierzo Wind I illustrates the dual risk that must be managed:

• Environmental risk: If the EIA concludes significant adverse impacts on protected species or landscape, the project is blocked regardless of the status of other authorizations. The unfavorable EIA for Bierzo Wind I was issued in March 2026, after years of processing.
• Grid risk: Red Eléctrica can declare access and connection permits expired if procedure milestones are not met. In Bierzo Wind I this occurred in December 2025, even before the unfavorable EIA.

The operational lesson is clear: both risks must be monitored in parallel, not sequentially. Waiting to resolve environmental processing before actively managing grid permits can result in the loss of both simultaneously.

What should companies do now?

1. Audit the status of access and connection permits for all projects in the portfolio: Verify with Red Eléctrica de España whether permits remain valid or are at risk of expiration. The expiration of Bierzo Wind I occurred in December 2025.
2. Review the status of pending environmental impact declarations: Identify which projects have EIAs in processing and assess the risk of unfavorable resolution, especially in areas with protected species or high landscape value.
3. Verify if any project shares a file with another: The separation of Bierzo Wind I and Bierzo Wind II shows that joint files can be separated. Knowing this possibility allows better management of contagion risk between projects.
4. Evaluate the feasibility of reactivating canceled projects under new files: If a project has been archived, any reactivation requires starting the procedure from scratch. Calculate whether the additional investment is justified before committing resources.
5. Inform investors and partners about the impact on the portfolio: The cancellation of projects in processing has consequences for the valuation of the renewable portfolio. Communicate transparently and update installed capacity projections.

Official source

Consult complete regulation at official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-23247