On its historic lands, wind power is setting off again

The arrival at the fateful age of 20 years of the first wind farms in France announces a multiplication of this type of work, an opportunity to change equipment and at the same time to increase the power and electricity production offered.

At the Treilles-Souleilla park, commissioned in 2001, this "repowering", as the sector calls the maneuver, will produce 20% more energy, with 16 turbines of unchanged size but state-of-the-art, to supply 35.000 people.

On this summit of the Corbières, with a view of the sea and wind all year round, the site began with the removal of the old wind turbines, the excavation and then the repair of the foundations, and finally the installation of the new machines, supplied by the German Vensys.

This weekend, it is the 5th: first a piece of mast, in which a crane operator, delicate but confident, fits another piece. Both are riveted from the inside by technicians: the sound of the screwdriver can be heard 100 m away. The crane then seizes the nacelle, before the rotor scheduled for the next day.

Result: one year of work and 40 million euros of investment. But it's worth it, says the developer, Qenergy.

Better accepted

After 20 years, the materials are suffering, especially in this sector of Aude, a historic site of wind power in France, where the Tramontana and "turbulent" sea winds put them to the test.

Maintenance was getting heavier and heavier, like for a car that it is better to change, we explain at Qenergy France (ex-RES, bought by the Korean Hanwha).

Above all, the interest in a known site "is that acceptance is better", says the general manager, Jean-François Petit: "there is often no opposition to renewal".

"Wind turbines are part of the landscape, I walk there with the children", confirms Annabelle Grondin, from La Franqui, by the sea, worried on the other hand about future wind projects in the Mediterranean.

The only downside one day came from an association in Port-Leucate, on the coast, relates the mayor (LR) of Treilles, Gérard Lucien: "they said + we see the wind turbines from home +, I answered + we can see your buildings from our home+!"

The city councilor makes his accounts. He renegotiated the rental of the land and royalties upwards: 500.000 euros annually. The village of 300 inhabitants has been transformed in 20 years: road, grocery store, nine employees...

The gain in electricity production could have been greater if the proximity of a weather radar had not limited the height of the devices.

Elsewhere, this gain can indeed reach 50% or even 100%, due to technological progress in materials (higher and more resistant masts, more solid blades), power electronics (reducing the mass of the nacelle), the aerodynamics... explains Mr. Petit.

A wind turbine can reach 5 MW, five times more than yesterday...

The gradual "repowering" of some 8.000 wind turbines in France is thus a solution identified by Ademe to green the country's energy.

Since 2018, the State has provided for a specific framework, with authorization procedures varying according to the extent of the transformations. But it can also include new obligations related to the evolution of standards and knowledge.

Thus in Treilles, Qenergy had this time to take an interest in the golden eagle, investing in the maintenance of 100 hectares of state forest to promote its habitat, all under the control of the ONF (National Forestry Office).

Expected on the subject of recycling, the developer also ensures that 99% of the old fleet has been recycled or reused, 80% within 100 km. One third of the concrete, for example, is returned to the foundations, the rest taken over by a construction company.

As for the blades, the most difficult subject due to their composite content (fiberglass, resin, wood), they were given to a local artist to end up in sculptures and street furniture.