Quite simply, turbine repowering involves removing an existing turbine and replacing it with another. The new turbine is often larger and/or more efficient, producing more electricity. It can also be as straightforward as replacing the turbine head.

There are several reasons our clients opt for repowering. Some have a broken turbine that needs expensive repairs or hard-to-source parts. For some it is difficult, or even impossible, to insure their turbine. Others simply need to generate more power. The key question: “Is my turbine providing me with the best return?”

If a development’s installed capacity is unchanged, the payments remain the same.

However, if you install a larger turbine with a higher generation output, you will be paid a proportionate amount of the generation under Feed-in-Tariff.

It all depends on the existing turbine and what is replacing it, but our Team can guide each of our clients through this process.

Planning permission depends on the scope of your repowering project.

For repowering, a new planning application is required. While this may seem daunting, the analysis is a comparison between the existing and proposed turbines. This means assessments are more streamlined and less onerous than developing a brand-new site.

However, the onus remains on the developer to prove that the new turbine is acceptable.

All re-powered turbines will need at least a variation to their existing grid connection. If you are installing a larger turbine, you might need to carry out upgrade works and gain extra export capacity from the District Network Operator (DNO). Our Technical Consultants at Cogeo Site Services can guide you through this process.

The simple answer for anyone considering repowering is to get in touch with us.

We can guide and support them through the repowering process and connect them with our valued partners. These are companies that provide a range of services from turbine installation and maintenance, to turbine leasing and replacement.