RWE has commenced work on repowering its wind farm in Lasbek, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, aiming to replace six aging turbines with four new, more powerful models. This upgrade will nearly double the wind farm's capacity, from just under 11 MW to 22.8 MW.
Preparations have begun with construction site setup and road work, while the dismantling of two old turbines is underway. The newly repowered Lasbek facility is set to be fully operational by the end of 2025.
RWE Renewables Europe & Australia CEO Katja Wünschel described the Lasbek project as a model of efficient energy transition, highlighting the project's ability to produce more electricity with fewer turbines. “Lasbek is a showcase project of the energy transition … In the future, each new wind turbine at the Lasbek wind farm will generate more electricity than the six turbines that have been in operation for 20 years combined,” she noted, emphasizing the role of repowering in Germany's renewable energy expansion.
In line with RWE's commitment to sustainability, rotor blades from the decommissioned turbines will be utilized in the “BladeReUse” research project led by the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
The project aims to recycle rotor materials into noise barriers for motorways. Meanwhile, four older turbines will remain operational alongside the construction of the new models, ensuring continued green electricity generation during the upgrade process.
Additionally, gravel from paths and crane sites at the wind farm will be partially reused to reduce resource use and waste.
See Also
- RWE signs framework agreement with Siemens Gamesa for 1GW of onshore wind farms in Europe
- RWE Commences Construction of 53MW Wind Farm in Apulia, Italy
- World’s Largest High-Altitude Wind Farm Commences Operations in Tibet
- WindEurope Urges MEPs to Support Climate and Energy Security Objectives
- Wind and Solar Lead Growth in U.S. Electricity Generation, New Research Shows