RWE has commissioned its newly upgraded Lasbek wind farm in the municipality of Lasbek, Stormarn district, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, following a one-year modernization project.
The initiative replaced six older wind turbines, which had a combined capacity of 10.8 megawatts (MW), with four advanced wind turbines capable of generating 22.8 MW. This investment in upgrade increases electricity generation by five times, allowing the wind farm to supply clean energy to approximately 18,000 households in the region.
The repowering project delivers benefits to local communities, with surrounding municipalities set to receive up to €124,000 annually during the wind farm’s operation. This represents an increase of roughly €100,000 compared to previous revenues, providing local authorities with opportunities to invest in public infrastructure, including schools, daycare centres, and fire departments.
RWE is championing sustainability through innovation. Rotor blades from one of the decommissioned turbines have been contributed to the BladeReUse research project at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. The initiative, supported by RWE and other partners, explores sustainable ways to repurpose turbine rotor blades.
RWE said the durable composite materials from these blades are being processed for large-scale applications, such as noise barrier walls along highways. Additional turbine components from Lasbek are being stored as spare parts for RWE’s broader fleet, improving resource efficiency and reducing waste.
Katja Wunschel, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, said that the commissioning of Lasbek wind farm gives the facility a new lease of life with fewer turbines but five times the electricity generation capacity, and highlighted that many turbine components are being repurposed in other wind farms or in noise barrier walls along motorways, while surrounding communities benefit from additional income of up to €100,000 per year.
The Lasbek project highlights the pivotal role of onshore wind energy in Germany’s energy transition. Onshore wind remains a key driver of the country’s renewable energy expansion, supporting cleaner power generation and Germany’s climate targets. RWE continues to strengthen its onshore wind portfolio in Germany, with 760 MW currently operational and an additional 145 MW under construction.
Faheema P