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January 24, 2025On the road to the energy transition to a low-carbon economy, wind energy is a key transformation vector. Thanks to wind, electricity can be generated in a clean, safe and efficient way, as it does not generate carbon emissions and does not require permanent consumption of raw materials, which often need to be imported for its operation.
Historically, Spain is one of the countries that has taken advantage of the potential of wind to power its energy grid. Thus, in 2023 – still the last year for which we have complete data – wind power was ‘the leading source of electricity generation’, according to data from the Spanish Wind Energy Association (AEE). With a total installed capacity of 30,425 MW, it has been able to cover 24% of the country’s annual electricity demand. In the race to consolidate clean energy, many other countries are following this path, underpinning wind power in their energy mix.
But in order to generate this clean, renewable energy, it is not only the presence of wind under certain conditions that is needed, but also an infrastructure capable of converting this driving force into electricity. This is where wind turbines (also called wind turbines or wind generators) come into play.
According to the most recent records, in 2023 there were some 22,210 wind turbines in Spain, distributed across 1,371 wind farms and practically the entire Spanish geography, although their distribution is adjusted to the areas with the greatest presence of wind. Today, wind farms are part of the landscape and wind turbines are present on the horizon.

What is a wind turbine like?
There are different types of wind turbines, although the most common are horizontal axis turbines, which can be seen in most wind farms in Spain. Their size and power have been progressively increasing in line with the evolution of technological development. From the first initial models of 300 kW and 30 m rotor diameter at the end of the 20th century, we have reached onshore models of 7.2 MW, with a rotor of 172 m diameter. And the turbines used in offshore wind are even larger.
A wind turbine consists of the following basic parts:
- Tower. This is a vertical tubular structure that allows the generating elements to be positioned at the right height for operation. The larger the diameter of the rotor, the higher it is.
- Nacelle. Located at the top of the tower, it houses all the elements necessary for the generation of electrical energy. It contains the gearbox, which allows the shaft rotation speed to be increased internally; the generator, which transforms kinetic energy into electricity; and the electrical control and instrumentation panels.
- Rotor. This is the moving element, which rotates due to the action of the wind. It is made up of the blades and a central hub where they are inserted to connect to the main shaft, which allows the transformation of the rotation into electrical energy.
- Blades. Wind turbines usually have three blades, which are responsible for turning the rotor, capturing the force of the wind due to its aerodynamic shape.
Most of the materials that make up the wind turbine are very valuable, and therefore must be recycled at the end of their useful life, estimated at 20 to 25 years of service. Until now, the most difficult element to recycle was the blades, which are mostly made of glass fibre composites, carbon and resins, and were therefore disposed of.
From the perspective of the circular economy, ENERGYLOOP has developed a treatment solution that allows the recovery of all the materials that make up the blades, giving them new uses as raw materials in different industrial sectors.
How a wind turbine works
Wind is a local and inexhaustible resource. Its use provides a very low-impact and sustainable source of renewable energy.
The process of transforming the force of the wind into electrical energy takes place in two phases: firstly by obtaining kinetic energy through the rotation of the rotor and the horizontal axis, and secondly by transforming this energy into electrical energy.
Wind turbines are always positioned upwind in order to make the best possible use of the wind. For this purpose, each wind turbine has a control system that orients it.
The wind is responsible for turning the blades: a gentle wind (from 10 km/hour) is sufficient to start the movement (the wind turbines only stop when they exceed 90 km/hour for safety reasons). This movement is transmitted to a horizontal shaft, the rotational speed of which is significantly increased by the gearbox.
It is the rotation of this fast shaft which, with the help of magnets, produces the electrical energy inside the generator, thus converting the kinetic energy into electricity. From there, the electricity (after passing through a transformer substation) is fed into the distribution network that delivers electricity to homes, businesses and other users.