María Chivite, President of the Government of Navarra, Mario Ruiz-Tagle, CEO of Iberdrola España, Iñigo Sanz, CEO of FCC Enviro, and Mikel Irujo, Regional Minister for Industry and Ecological and Digital Business Transition of the Government of Navarra, have inaugurated the EnergyLOOP plant in the town of Cortes (Navarra). This is the first facility on the Iberian Peninsula specifically dedicated to the recycling of wind turbine blades — a key step toward addressing one of the medium- and long-term challenges of the renewable energy sector: the recycling of its components. The plant has been designed with a treatment capacity of up to 10,000 tonnes per year.
The aim of the facility is to recover wind turbine blade components — mainly fiberglass and resins — for reuse in sectors such as energy, aerospace, automotive, textiles, chemicals, and construction. This contributes to the energy transition and drives the development of a circular economy in Spain.
The plant has received an investment of nearly €10 million and will help build an innovative and dynamic value chain. EnergyLOOP expects to create up to 100 direct and indirect jobs over the decade, boosting the creation of quality green employment and supporting local talent.
María Chivite, President of Navarra, stated: “Green transition, competitiveness, circularity, and innovation are pillars of the productive model promoted by our government. This project is a perfect fit. EnergyLOOP is not only cutting-edge, but an example of how to combine an innovative and circular industrial model with a green energy model. Technology at the service of a sustainable planet. Also, as you know, this government is making an effort to decentralize industrial activity. That is why I want to highlight that Cortes, in the Ribera de Navarra, was chosen for this cutting-edge facility.”
Mario Ruiz-Tagle, CEO of Iberdrola España, commented: “We are inaugurating more than just an industrial plant — we are launching a new era in the circular economy of renewable energy. This factory, the first in the peninsula dedicated to wind blade recycling, provides a concrete solution to an already pressing challenge. New technologies make it possible to carry out a sustainable energy transition and create jobs in rural areas. Repowering will also become a new driver for this circular cycle.”
According to Iñigo Sanz, CEO of FCC Enviro: “The inauguration of the EnergyLOOP plant, after several years of joint research and innovation between FCC and Iberdrola, marks a milestone on the road toward a more responsible and circular future. This facility marks the beginning of a new era where innovation and respect for the planet go hand in hand. At FCC, we will continue to face new challenges and explore new applications for recovered materials.” He also stressed “the need for the European Union and public institutions to support the repowering of photovoltaic installations and to mandate the use of recycled materials from wind blades, which is essential for the development of projects like EnergyLOOP that are key to the Circular Economy.”
The project is backed by the Government of Navarra, as it is considered a strategic activity that positions the region at the forefront of the renewable energy sector through its emphasis on technological innovation and circularity. It aligns with Navarra’s smart specialization strategy and was declared a Project of Foral Interest in 2023, receiving strong institutional support.
It has also received funding from the IDAE through the PERTE for Circular Repowering, specifically under Program 3, which supports the development of recycling plants such as EnergyLOOP. The project has also benefited from the valuable support of Sodena, the regional public development agency, which provided guidance on grants and tax incentives and accompanied the site selection process.
EnergyLOOP is a company promoted by Iberdrola through its PERSEO program and by FCC Ámbito, a subsidiary of FCC Enviro, with the goal of recovering wind turbine blade components for reuse across multiple industries, including energy, aerospace, automotive, textiles, chemicals, and construction.
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