Navarra is set to host a global first: a commercial factory dedicated to making wind turbine blades from laminated veneer lumber (LVL) instead of traditional composites. The VB1F project, led by Voodin Blade Technology alongside Anker-Tec, VMG Wood Invest and VMG Technics, has secured €48.18 million from the EU New idea Fund and plans to mobilize more than €100 million in total investment.
The grant is part of a wider European push to scale up net-zero technologies. Financed through revenues from the EU Emissions Trading System, the New idea Fund supports industrial decarbonization and renewable energy. It also backs energy storage and low-emission mobility, alongside work involving critical raw materials. Carbon management and clean-technology manufacturing are also eligible. On October 19, 2026, the European Commission announced €3.4 billion for 77 projects across 23 European Economic Area countries; eight of the selected projects are in Spain. Bellona Europe described this funding round as larger than the previous allocation of €2.9 billion for 61 projects.
Project documents schedule construction to begin on April 1, 2026, with operations expected to start by the end of 2030. Industrial-scale production is planned for 2031. The facility aims to manufacture up to 160 sets of blades a year, each ranging from 20 to 90 meters in length. The initiative is expected to create around 450 operational jobs, primarily for skilled professionals in production management and plant operations, including maintenance.
New Materials and Methods
Conventional blades are made from fiberglass or carbon fiber; the new models will use LVL, a high-performance engineered wood made from thin layers of Nordic spruce bonded with structural adhesives. The material is designed to provide the rigidity and fatigue resistance wind turbines require, while allowing a different manufacturing process. Instead of using custom molds for each blade model, the plant will shape components directly from digital files with five-axis CNC machines. The European Commission says this approach could cut capital investment by 54% compared with traditional processes. Voodin estimates a 20% reduction in blade costs and a 78% drop in manufacturing CO₂ emissions.
Environmental Impact and Recycling
Environmental benefits are central to the project. Over its first decade, the plant's output could generate nearly 13.5 million megawatt-hours of electricity while avoiding more than 2.4 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent compared with standard reference scenarios. Wood also stores biogenic carbon, and the project tackles a major challenge for the wind industry: recycling blades at the end of their service life. Conventional composite blades can be difficult and costly to recycle, with many sent to landfill. Voodin says its wooden blades can be recycled after a projected service life of more than 25 years. The European project summary estimates that the process could cut certain environmental impacts by up to 90% compared with fiberglass blades, including fossil resource depletion and human toxicity. It also cites lower water use.
Navarra's Strategic Role
The exact location within Navarra has not been disclosed, but the region was chosen for its established wind-energy environment and institutional support. The announcement, highlighted by Invest in Navarra, adds to a series of industrial investments in the area. Another major plant in Navarra is expected to create more than 300 jobs, although the two projects operate in different sectors.
Job Creation and Next Steps
The projected 450 jobs are tied to the factory's operational phase. They are not open vacancies, and no details have been released about recruitment timelines or required qualifications. The companies that will handle hiring have also not been named. Those interested in future opportunities can focus on training in renewable energy and industrial maintenance while waiting for recruitment announcements from the consortium.
The VB1F project aims to combine industrial-scale production with a wood-based alternative to conventional composite blades. Its planned capacity and manufacturing approach, which includes end-of-life recycling, put it among the technologies seeking to expand Europe's clean-energy supply chain.
