German wind turbine manufacturer Enercon will accelerate industrial production of new turbine models at its Aurich facility after receiving a €3.7 million grant from the State of Lower Saxony and the federal government, the company said on Friday.
The funding supports a wider investment programme of up to €30 million aimed at scaling production of nacelles and rotor hubs in response to increased demand and rising permitting activity in Germany’s onshore wind sector. The expansion will be led by Enercon’s Centre of Excellence Mechatronic, which serves as the company’s main production site for core turbine components.
“We are very pleased with the support from our state government and the federal authorities,” said Enercon CEO Udo Bauer. “The funding will help us establish efficient production for our new turbine models. This will enable us to deliver more quickly for the accelerated onshore expansion and actively shape the energy transition together with our customers.”
As part of the investment, Enercon plans to introduce automation and digitalisation measures at the Aurich facility, which will manufacture components for turbines in the 6-7 megawatt (MW) class. The expansion is expected to create up to 35 new jobs.
The grant was delivered under the “Joint Task for the Improvement of Regional Economic Structures” (GRW), a federal-state programme that aims to promote industrial competitiveness and regional development.
During a site visit, Lower Saxony’s Minister for Economic Affairs Grant Hendrik Tonne highlighted Enercon’s role in the region’s industrial and renewable energy landscape.
“The company‘s development in recent years and the commitment of its employees are impressive – I was able to witness that myself today,” Tonne said. “With this funding, we want to recognise this achievement and support Enercon’s positive development into the future.”
Enercon said the investment will reduce lead times and enhance the site’s readiness to meet the needs of Germany’s expanding wind power market.
