The dismantling of the Milán wind farm in Menorca has begun.

PalmThe dismantling of the wind turbines at the Milán wind farm began this Monday, after the facility had been out of service for more than a year following the end of its useful life and the declaration of the project's economic unviability. According to the Menorca Island Council, the action is part of the institution's energy development plan, with the aim of adapting existing infrastructure and preparing the territory for future renewable energy projects. The work is being carried out by the company Asefa. The wind farm, built between 2003 and 2004, consisted of four MADE AE-59 model turbines, each with a nominal power of 800 kW and a total capacity of 3.2 MW. It fed electricity into the grid from 2004 until its shutdown in 2023, shortly before reaching its planned 20-year lifespan. One of the four wind turbines had already been dismantled at the end of 2022 due to structural damage. During December, preliminary work was carried out to prepare the site for the installation of heavy machinery, which arrived on the island this past weekend. According to Simón Gornés, the island councilor for the Environment, Biosphere Reserve, and Cooperation, 400- and 100-ton cranes have been mobilized to safely remove the three remaining structures, each weighing approximately 86 tons. The dismantling process is contingent upon weather conditions, as work cannot be carried out in winds exceeding 18 km/h. With a favorable forecast for the coming days, the removal of the first rotor and its blades is scheduled for this Monday, and the dismantling of the remaining three turbines is expected to be completed throughout the week. The dismantling contract, promoted by the Menorca Waste and Energy Consortium, was tendered in May 2025 for €760,282. It includes drafting the project, dismantling the wind turbines, foundations, trenches, and cabling, as well as managing all materials at authorized recycling or treatment centers. Once the structures have been removed, the components will be transported to the Spanish mainland for technical management or integration into authorized recycling chains. The on-site work is expected to last approximately one month, although logistical tasks could take longer. The president of the Menorca Island Council, Adolfo Vilafranca, emphasized that this action is part of the island's energy roadmap, aimed at transitioning to a more sustainable model, and stressed that it represents "another step towards modernizing Menorca's energy infrastructure," with the maximum potential.