Clean Electricity from Wind Energy

More than half of Germany’s renewable energy is now generated by wind power, making it the country’s strongest renewable energy source. Wind turbines produce electricity very efficiently. Additionally, the energy required for manufacturing and installing wind turbines is quickly offset.

Wind turbines are classified as either onshore or offshore. Onshore wind farms are located on land, while offshore wind farms are installed in the sea, where wind speeds are higher and more consistent. Offshore wind turbines are generally taller than those on land, enabling them to generate more electricity continuously. However, building offshore turbines is more complex and expensive, and feeding offshore-generated electricity into the grid is significantly costlier and more challenging.

EWE, therefore, focuses on onshore wind energy. Through its participation in Alterric, EWE is now engaged in numerous onshore wind farms and community wind energy projects across Europe, with a total production capacity of 2,400 megawatts.

In northwestern Germany, one of our core regions, strong winds and flat terrain create ideal conditions for wind farms that generate green electricity. Thanks in part to EWE, Lower Saxony has long been a leader in wind power. Wind energy expansion is also progressing steadily in other core regions, such as Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Brandenburg.

Since the 1980s, when EWE built Germany’s largest wind farm at the time in Pilsum, we have been investing in wind energy. In 2004, we constructed the world’s tallest wind turbine with a height of 180 meters. As a consortium leader, EWE also commissioned Germany’s first offshore wind farm, Alpha Ventus, in 2010. We bring our expertise and commitment to sustainability to partnerships, always striving to shape a sustainable future and fulfill our corporate social responsibility.

To maximize the transformation potential of renewable energy, particularly wind power, our joint venture Alterric develops and operates wind farms in Germany and other European countries. Alterric offers landowners the opportunity to lease suitable green or agricultural land for wind turbines, contributing to the energy transition while receiving financial compensation. A thorough site assessment is always conducted to ensure that no nature reserves or wildlife are harmed.

Alterric is also involved in forestry projects, particularly in areas affected by drought, storms, or pests. Revenue from wind energy can help restore these forests with mixed tree species for future generations.

To further increase efficiency in generating carbon-neutral energy, Alterric is increasingly combining wind power with photovoltaic systems to create hybrid energy parks.

As onshore wind energy plays a crucial role in the energy transition, the German government has mandated that each federal state must allocate at least 2% of its land for wind power. In northern Germany, where conditions are particularly favorable, even higher allocations make sense.

However, municipalities sometimes struggle to designate suitable land due to legal constraints. Additionally, some federal states have introduced special regulations regarding minimum distances between wind turbines and residential areas. To overcome these obstacles and ensure continued green energy production from onshore wind, EWE calls for a government expansion program that specifically addresses barriers related to land availability, permitting processes, and nature conservation laws.

EWE believes that a centrally coordinated and binding approach should be established to determine which municipalities must allocate suitable land. This would not only support nationwide wind energy expansion but also ensure a fair regional distribution of the energy transition’s impact. It would also align with the German Constitutional Court’s ruling for stronger climate protection, enabling the entire country to benefit from more green electricity from wind.