ENOVA (German renewable energy company) has connected its repowered Meppen wind farm to the grid, marking the completion of what the German wind energy company describes as the largest repowering project in its history.

The Emsland district site, which has been under development for more than two decades, now hosts nine Vestas V172 turbines with a combined installed capacity of around 65 MW, replacing 14 older machines that had been operating since 2002.

New Turbines Among Germany's Largest Onshore Installations

The nine Vestas V172 turbines commissioned at Meppen stand at 261 metres in total height, with a hub height of 175 metres and a rotor diameter of 172 metres.

According to ENOVA, the machines are among the largest and most powerful onshore turbines currently being erected in Germany. The new installation carries a projected annual energy yield of around 163 million kWh, which the company says is approximately four times the output of the 14 turbines the project replaces. The wind farm project is expected to supply green electricity to roughly 46,500 three-person households.

Construction began approximately two years before the June 2026 commissioning date. The project received approval under the Federal Immission Control Act in July 2023, clearing the way for work to proceed.

During a first decommissioning phase in 2024, five of the original turbines were dismantled. Work on access roads, foundations, cable routes and towers followed, with erection of the new turbines beginning in November 2025. The remaining old turbines are expected to be dismantled by August 2026.

Two Decades of Continuous Presence at the Site

ENOVA's involvement at the Meppen site stretches back to the turn of the century. Between 2000 and 2004, the company developed the fourteen original turbines, handling planning, approval, and implementation. The repowering project therefore represents a continuation of more than 20 years of activity at the same location rather than an entirely new venture.

Björn Burau, ENOVA's Chief Financial Officer, described the commissioning as a significant milestone. "With this project, we are demonstrating how our technical expertise, operational strength and trusting collaboration with stakeholders enable us to modernise existing sites in a sustainable manner," he said. "Meppen also highlights the potential of repowering, both for efficient land use and for a reliable and sustainable energy supply."

Stakeholder Participation Built Into the Project Structure

A central feature of the Meppen repowering was the involvement of the parties who held interests in the original wind farm. Both the landowners and the operators of the 14 existing turbines were given the opportunity to participate in the new installation, and ENOVA states that they actively took up that offer. The company describes this as a prime example of collaborative implementation within what it characterises as a complex stakeholder structure.

Local residents have also been given access to financial participation through subordinated loans, allowing them to invest directly in the wind farm and share in its financial returns.

Project manager David Szilagyi acknowledged the contribution of those involved across the project's duration. "I would like to extend my special thanks to the landowners, the local authorities, and all the partners and service providers involved," he said. "The trusting cooperation and the great commitment of everyone involved have played a key role in making this project a success."

Financial Benefits Directed at the Local Municipality

The repowered wind farm carries a series of financial arrangements that direct revenues toward the town of Meppen and its surrounding area. Under Section 6 of the Renewable Energy Sources Act, known as the EEG, the municipality benefits directly from the wind farm's electricity revenues and from operating profits subject to trade tax. In addition, five per cent of annual lease payments are earmarked for supporting charitable causes within the municipality.

ENOVA also states that the reduced number of turbines, nine replacing fourteen, results in a more tranquil landscape for local residents and significantly lower noise levels compared to the previous installation.

Hiddels Repowering Follows as Next Major Project in the Region

The completion at Meppen comes as ENOVA has simultaneously launched construction on another repowering project in the same broader area. Work began in May 2026 at the Hiddels wind farm in the Friesland district, where eleven existing turbines built between 2000 and 2002 are being removed.

The fleet being dismantled at Hiddels consists of nine Enercon E-66 turbines and two Vestas V66 turbines. In their place, ENOVA will install five Vestas V150 turbines, each rated at 6 MW, giving the site a total capacity of 30 MW.

The new turbines at Hiddels are scheduled to go into operation in the second half of 2027 and will supply approximately 20,500 two-person households with green electricity.

As part of that project, ENOVA is also investing in grid infrastructure and constructing its own substation to provide direct, independent access to the power grid.

Company Targeting 3 GW Portfolio by End of 2030

ENOVA describes itself as one of Germany's largest onshore wind energy operators, with 1 GW currently in its portfolio and around one million households supplied with green electricity.

The family-owned company, which operates as a developer, investor, service provider, and operations manager, has set a target of building its portfolio to 3 GW and increasing its assets under management to 5 billion euros by the end of 2030.

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