Six Times The Amount of Electricity: VSB Starts Realisation of One of The Largest Repowering Projects in Europe

Dresden, Germany - The VSB Group has received approval for the repowering of the Elster wind farm in Saxony-Anhalt.

Within the scope of the project, 50 existing Enercon 600 kW turbines with a total capacity of 30 megawatts (MW) will be replaced by 16 more powerful and modern Siemens Gamesa 6.6 MW turbines with a total capacity of 105.6 MW. The project developer and operator from Dresden is thus realising one of the largest repowering projects in Europe in the district of Wittenberg in Saxony-Anhalt.

VSB expects the energy yield after repowering to be around 235 million kWh (235 GWh) per year, which would correspond to a six-fold increase in generation and would be sufficient to cover the electricity needs of around 150,000 people. Compared to conventionally generated electricity, the wind farm also saves about 180,000 tonnes of CO₂ annually, the company said.

In close coordination with the environmental construction supervisors, the highest standards in the areas of species protection and ecological sustainability are also adhered to, according to VSB. Since the Elster Repowering wind farm requires about a third less area than the old wind farm, part of the site can be restored. In addition, as a founding member of RDRWind e.V., VSB is committed to establishing standards and norms for the sustainable dismantling of wind turbines for the first time.

The dismantling of the old Enercon E-40 turbines has already taken place on the site of the Elster Repowering wind farm, and the foundations of the old turbines are expected to be removed by June 2023. Construction of the new turbines is scheduled to begin in early 2024. Commissioning of the wind farm is planned for the third quarter of 2024.

Source: IWR Online, 01 Mar 2023