Our History

Already back in the 1980s, EWE recognized the key role of renewable energies and has been actively committed to their expansion ever since. In 1996, EWE built Europe’s largest wind farm at the time, laying the foundation for its involvement in wind energy.

A major milestone followed in 2010 when EWE, together with E.ON and Vattenfall, launched alpha ventus, Germany’s first offshore wind farm. This pioneering project set the stage for offshore wind energy in Germany, demonstrating the potential of energy generation at sea. Alpha ventus served as a test site that provided critical insights for the further expansion of offshore wind power.

Another milestone was the construction of Riffgat, Germany’s first commercial offshore wind farm, which became operational in 2014 in the North Sea. Equipped with 30 wind turbines, Riffgat has since provided green electricity for around 120,000 households. In the same year, EWE also introduced its first wind farm series with municipal and citizen participation, offering municipalities within its grid area up to a 25.1% stake in EWE NETZ.

Beyond expanding wind energy, EWE has also led research efforts into integrating renewable energy into smart grids. In 2009, EWE launched the smart grid pilot project eTelligence in Cuxhaven. The project ran for four years and served as a model for the development of smart grids across Germany. EWE was an early innovator, demonstrating how decentralized renewable energy generation could be managed more efficiently and intelligently.

Between 2016 and 2020, EWE implemented another groundbreaking project – enera. Supported by 50 million euros in funding from the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, enera created a model region for the energy transition in the districts of Friesland, Aurich, and Wittmund. The project focused on developing digital and intelligent solutions to stabilize the power grid and integrate renewable energies. The insights gained from enera are now being applied nationwide to accelerate the energy transition.

EWE is also actively investing in solar energy and other sustainable initiatives. To consolidate its renewable energy activities, EWE founded EWE ERNEUERBARE ENERGIEN, a company dedicated to coordinating and expanding wind and solar energy projects.

Today, this company has merged into Alterric GmbH, a joint venture between the Aloys Wobben Foundation and EWE AG, which develops and operates new onshore wind farms and manages existing facilities. EWE continues to invest heavily in renewable energy projects with the goal of actively shaping the transformation towards a more sustainable energy future.

Today, EWE is not only a reliable regional energy supplier but also a pioneer in sustainable and digital energy solutions. With initiatives such as the fiber optic expansion program, into which EWE is investing over one billion euros by 2028, and its partnership with Deutsche Telekom to form Glasfaser Nordwest, the company is helping to provide high-speed internet to up to 1.5 million households. Through these initiatives, EWE continues to play a leading role in digital infrastructure development.