The turbines have stopped: Why Menorca's wind farm is being dismantled — and what to do now

The turbines have stopped: Why Menorca's wind farm is being dismantled — and what to do now

Key question: Was the Milà wind farm a failed experiment or a learning process for the Balearics' energy future?

On Monday, 12 January, two large cranes rolled up the hill of Milà: one with a load capacity of around 400 tonnes, the other about 100 tonnes. They lifted the three remaining wind turbines one by one off their bases. The sight has been noted alongside reporting on the Construction Boom in the Balearic Islands. Work is halted when winds exceed about 18 km/h for safety reasons. Cost: roughly €600,000. This is the visible moment of a long retreat: the Balearics are losing their only wind farm to date.

Quick facts to understand the outcome: the facility started operation in 2004, ran for a total of 19 years and leaves a deficit of almost €400,000. Technical failures became more frequent, repairs dragged on in part because strict public procurement rules slowed the pace. One tower was already removed as an emergency measure in 2022. Each of the remaining turbines weighs about 86 tonnes; components will be taken to the mainland after dismantling and disposed of or recycled there.

Critical analysis: several problem areas combined here. First, the operating model: a wholly publicly run park must cope with budget rules, procurement procedures and limited resources. That makes rapid maintenance and spare-parts procurement difficult. Second, technology and age: 19 years of operation mean wear, and older turbines are more prone to faults than modern models. Third, economics: although the plant reduced the fuel needs of the conventional power station, it remained structurally loss-making — apparently the savings and revenues were not enough to cover ongoing costs and investments.

What has so far been missing from the public debate: the accounting must not be limited to direct euro amounts. Landscape impact, local acceptance, training of skilled personnel on the islands, and the question of what role decentralized energy supply should play in the future (see Mallorca 2035: Between Bed Reductions and a Return to Small-Scale Farming) rarely appear in the discussion. Equally invisible are the long-term costs for dismantling and recycling components — so it is not surprising that the demolition now causes six-figure expenses.

Everyday scene here: on a cold morning in Maó (Mahón) fishermen in old boots walk along the harbour promenade, conversations revolve around the usual things — petrol prices, bus timetables, when the next storm will come. "The turbines always used to make a humming noise," says a woman walking her dog. "Sometimes you thought it did some good, sometimes you only saw breakdowns." Such voices show: facts and feelings sit close together.

Concrete solutions — not theory, but practical ideas:

1) Procurement rules that are friendlier to maintenance: Public operators need more flexible, accelerated procedures for urgent technical work, combined with clear oversight mechanisms to maintain transparency.

2) Service-level contracts for new projects: If private operators are to bear the risk in the future, tenders must include minimum standards for availability, response times and decommissioning obligations — including financial guarantees for dismantling and recycling.

3) Network thinking instead of one-off projects: Small island grids need combined solutions: Mallorca's roofs remain empty — why the sun goes unused and how the island can change that, storage (batteries) and smart grids can cushion short-term outages. Wind can be part of the mix, but not stand alone.

4) De-/recycling strategy: From the planning stage it must be determined where components will go at the end — avoid local storage and contractually bind certified recycling partners.

5) Data instead of gut feeling: The announced measurement masts on Milà are the right idea — but data collection must be open, standardised and long-term so that investors and authorities use the same basis.

What remains now: the dismantling is not only a technical act, it is a political signal. Menorca's authorities have announced they will seek private operators via tender in future. That can work — provided public oversight and clear contractual penalties are sufficient to avoid the mistakes of the past.

Pithy conclusion: the decommissioning of the wind farm is not a triumph over renewable energy — it is a warning sign for thoughtless or poorly designed projects. On the Balearics there is a need for better frameworks, realistic cost planning and the combination of different technologies. If there is one lesson to be learned from Milà, it is this: technology alone is not enough; governance, maintenance and disposal must be considered from the outset.