en.Wedoany.com Reported - Edison has completed a wind repowering project in the Abruzzo region of Italy, with a total investment exceeding €200 million, increasing installed capacity from 114 MW to 186 MW. The project reduces the number of turbines on the ridge by 73% (replacing 173 turbines with 47 latest-generation units), while boosting renewable energy generation by 2.5 times to 355 GWh per year, enough to meet the energy needs of over 131,000 households—nearly the size of the entire province of Pescara—and cutting CO₂ emissions by 148,000 tons annually.
The technology upgrade and expansion project was implemented in two phases: from 2019 to 2021 and from 2025 to 2026. Edison CEO Nicola Monti stated that the completion of the Abruzzo repowering project is a strategic milestone for Edison's renewable energy growth in Italy and for the group's efforts to drive technological diversification, enhancing the resilience and decarbonization of the national energy system. He noted that such projects demonstrate how the energy transition can combine technological innovation, environmental sustainability, and local economic development, optimizing existing sites and fostering the growth of skills and industrial supply chains that are strategically important for the energy future.
Repowering offers significant potential for wind power growth in Italy. Plants slated for repowering account for nearly half of the country's installed wind capacity, approximately 6 GW out of a total of 13.5 GW. Considering the average capacity increase of 124% for projects under review, modernizing existing plants alone could add over 13 GW of renewable energy capacity, representing about 60%–70% of the new capacity needed to achieve the 26 GW wind power target set by the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) by 2030. Edison's comprehensive reconstruction project in Abruzzo has spurred local supply chain development, employing over 400 workers during the construction phase, creating a virtuous cycle for employment and the local supply chain, and promoting the specialization of local businesses. The full reconstruction also optimizes existing production sites that are already operational and equipped with infrastructure, improving visual appearance and harmony with the natural environment.
The project was accompanied by meticulous environmental restoration work: sites where turbines were removed were covered with improved soil (reusing excavated earth) and converted into sheep pastures; slopes were leveled and hydroseeded to restore the original natural environment. At the request of local authorities, some foundations were not specifically removed but were buried, providing stable bases for picnic areas. Using new cable duct routes and construction, Edison also renovated and enhanced the "Sentiero del Vento" (Wind Path), an ancient mountain trail now restored as a tourist route for hikers and mountain bikers. With nine wind farms and 186 MW of installed capacity, Edison is currently the leading wind power operator in Abruzzo, accounting for 61% of the region's total wind power generation. Abruzzo is the first region in Italy where Edison has completed the repowering of all its wind farms. This model, combining capacity increase, technological innovation, reduced landscape impact, and efficient land use, demonstrates the strategic role of repowering in the development of Italy's wind power industry.
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