The company will renovate the Rethen-Vordorf wind farm after winning a contract in the latest German auction, increasing electricity production and strengthening the development of renewable energy in the region.
Energy company RWE will modernize the Rethen-Vordorf wind farm, located in the Gifhorn district of Lower Saxony, after winning a contract in the most recent tender organized by the German Federal Network Agency. The project will replace three existing wind turbines with three new-generation turbines, increasing the installed capacity from 5.4 MW to 21 MW.
In addition to the increased power, the initiative will allow approximately 17,000 homes to be supplied with renewable electricity, taking advantage of the same site to generate greater energy production without expanding the land area occupied.
The upgrade will increase electricity production
The modernization of the wind farm exemplifies the potential of repowering existing facilities, thanks to the addition of more efficient wind turbines, RWE will be able to quadruple the complex’s capacity while maintaining the same number of turbines.
Construction will begin in the coming months and the company expects the park to be operational by the end of 2027, once the construction, installation and commissioning phases are completed.
Local communities will receive economic benefits
The project also includes financial contributions for nearby communities, RWE will allocate 0.3 euro cents for every kilowatt-hour generated to local authorities and projects in the surrounding area. This amount includes the contribution mandated by the Lower Saxony Participation Act.
According to the company’s estimates, this mechanism could represent up to 165,000 euros annually, strengthening the participation of communities in the development of renewable energy projects.
During the announcement, Sopna Sury, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, highlighted that replacing old wind turbines with more modern technology allows for the production of much more electricity using the same existing infrastructure, demonstrating the potential of modernizing onshore wind farms.
RWE continues to expand its renewable portfolio in Germany
The company currently operates onshore wind farms in Germany with a capacity of approximately 770 MW and maintains an expansion strategy for wind, solar and battery storage projects.
To promote this growth, RWE has several regional offices distributed throughout the country from which it develops new initiatives aimed at responding to the increase in electricity demand and contributing to a more secure energy supply through renewable sources.
The modernization of the Rethen-Vordorf park is part of this investment strategy, which focuses on improving the performance of existing facilities and accelerating the transition to an electricity system with higher levels of renewable generation.
Source and photo: Rwe
