Iberdrola Begins Operations at Landmark Portuguese Wind-Hydro Hybrid Energy Project

Iberdrola wind farm

(IN BRIEF) Iberdrola has begun commissioning the Tâmega Norte wind farm in Portugal as part of the Tâmega Complex, the first grid-connected hybrid wind-hydro renewable energy project on the Iberian Peninsula. The project combines two wind farms with a pumped-storage hydroelectric system to improve renewable energy storage and grid stability. Tâmega Norte will generate 195 MW using 27 high-capacity Vestas turbines, while the overall complex is expected to significantly reduce carbon emissions. Backed by the European Investment Bank and Norges Bank, the €346 million development also highlights advanced engineering solutions, including BladeLifter transport technology used to move oversized turbine blades through difficult mountainous terrain with reduced environmental impact.

(PRESS RELEASE) BILBAO, 15-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Iberdrola has started commissioning the Tâmega Norte wind farm in Portugal, marking a major milestone in the development of the Tâmega Complex, the first grid-connected hybrid wind-hydro project on the Iberian Peninsula. The initiative combines onshore wind generation with pumped-storage hydroelectric technology, creating an integrated renewable energy system designed to improve electricity storage, grid flexibility and system stability.

Located between the districts of Braga and Vila Real in the municipalities of Cabeceiras de Basto and Montalegre, the Tâmega Norte facility is the first of two wind farms planned within the wider Tâmega Complex. Together with the future Tâmega Sul installation, the project will operate alongside a large pumped-storage hydroelectric system, allowing renewable energy generated during periods of high wind production to be stored and released when electricity demand increases.

The Tâmega Norte wind farm will have an installed capacity of 195 MW and will include 27 Vestas wind turbines, each capable of generating 7.2 MW. Featuring rotor heights of 172 metres, the turbines represent some of the highest-capacity onshore wind equipment deployed by Iberdrola to date. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to generate around 414 GWh of electricity annually. The second wind farm, Tâmega Sul, which remains under construction, is projected to contribute an additional 185 GWh per year.

The hybrid structure of the project enables both wind and hydroelectric technologies to share grid connection infrastructure, reducing environmental impact while improving operational efficiency. Iberdrola said the system will also contribute to faster electrification and greater stability within Portugal’s electricity network.

Electricity generated by the wind farms will be integrated into the grid through existing infrastructure linked to the Red Eléctrica Nacional (REN) hub in Ribeira de Pena. Energy from Tâmega Norte will connect via the Daivões substation, while Tâmega Sul will be linked through Gouvães.

The total investment allocated to the two wind farms reaches €346 million, including €237 million dedicated to Tâmega Norte and €109 million for Tâmega Sul. The development has involved collaboration with both Portuguese and international suppliers. Danish wind turbine manufacturer Vestas supplied the turbines, while components and metal structures were delivered by Haizea Wind through its subsidiary HaizeaTecnoaranda. Several Portuguese civil engineering firms also participated in the construction process.

During peak construction periods, approximately 150 workers were involved in activities ranging from transport and installation to crane operations, external supervision and health and safety management. Construction timelines were affected by seasonal environmental restrictions linked to wildlife breeding periods, as well as challenging weather conditions in the region.

Iberdrola estimates that the Tâmega wind farms will prevent the release of more than 230,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, an amount comparable to removing around 100,000 vehicles’ yearly emissions from the road.

The company stated that the project has been developed in compliance with all environmental licensing requirements. Preventive, corrective and compensatory measures have been introduced alongside long-term environmental monitoring programmes intended to minimise ecological and socio-economic impact in the surrounding areas.

Financing for the complex has been supported by the European Investment Bank, while Norges Bank is participating as a strategic partner and is expected to hold a 49% stake in the project once operational.

One of the most technically demanding aspects of the development involved transporting oversized turbine blades through mountainous terrain. Iberdrola used BladeLifter technology, which allows blades to be elevated between 25 and 30 degrees during transport. The system enabled trucks to navigate steep roads and tight bends without extensive road widening or major civil engineering modifications, reducing disruption to rural landscapes and surrounding environments.

The transport operations required highly coordinated teams, with three specialists assigned to each vehicle to manage driving, blade rotation and system stabilisation through continuous radio communication and precise operational control.

Media Contact:

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION
Tel: +34 91 577 65 00
comunicacioncorporativa@iberdrola.es

SOURCE: Iberdrola