The Court of Justice of the European Union has upheld the legality of procedures used in Galicia to authorise wind farms, removing a legal hurdle that had stalled almost 100 projects in the region.
The Wind Energy Business Association (AEE) said the decision ends years of legal uncertainty and called on the High Court of Justice of Galicia to expedite the resolution of pending cases.
AEE director general Juan Virgilio Márquez said: “This resolution restores the confidence of developers, strengthens the credibility of the legal framework, and allows us to urgently resume the path of wind energy development in Galicia.
“We’re not just talking about competitive energy; we’re talking about skilled employment, value-added industries, improving the rural environment, territorial cohesion, and fulfilling climate commitments.”
The trade body warned that the paralysis of the sector for more than three years had caused significant damage to rural economies, delayed the energy transition, and stalled industrial investment.
Galicia has installed only 171MW of new wind capacity since 2020, compared with 6GW for Spain as a whole. The region currently has 186 wind farms totalling 3920MW in operation, generating 8636GWh last year.
Some 92 wind farms, representing around 2.5GW, remain subject to legal appeals. AEE urged that the public interest in renewable energy recognised under EU law be prioritised in future rulings.