After a construction period of around two years, ENOVA has successfully commissioned the Meppen wind farm (Emsland district). The new turbines have a total installed capacity of around 65 MW and are now supplying green electricity for around 46,500 three-person households.
With the commissioning of nine Vestas V172 turbines, ENOVA has implemented the largest repowering project in the company’s history to date. With a rotor diameter of 172 metres, a hub height of 175 metres and a total height of 261 metres, the new turbines are among the largest and most powerful onshore turbines currently being built in Germany. With a predicted energy yield of around 163 million KWh per year, they will deliver around four times as much power as the 14 old plants from 2002.
“The successful completion of the repowering at the Meppen wind farm marks a significant milestone for ENOVA,” explains Björn Burau, Chief Financial Officer of ENOVA. “With this project, we are showing how we can succeed in sustainably modernizing existing sites through technical expertise, our operational strength and trusting cooperation with stakeholders. Meppen also shows the potential of repowering – both for efficient land use and for a reliable and sustainable energy supply.”
Added value for the city, region and residents
A central element of the project was the consistent involvement of local stakeholders: both the property owners and the operators of the 14 old turbines were given the opportunity to participate in the new wind farm – and actively used it. The Meppen wind farm will thus become a prime example of the successful and partnership-based implementation of fair solutions in complex stakeholder structures.
Repowering also brings noticeable advantages for local residents: the smaller number of modern wind turbines ensures a quieter landscape and significantly reduced noise emissions. In addition, local citizens also have the opportunity to participate financially in the wind farm through subordinated loans and thus benefit directly from its economic success.
In addition, the modernised wind farm is also a benefit for the region: According to §6 of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), the city of Meppen benefits directly from the electricity revenues of the wind farm as well as from the income from operation, which is subject to trade tax; five percent of the annual leases are also earmarked for the promotion of charitable purposes within the municipality.
“The Meppen wind farm is an example of how sustainable energy generation and regional value creation can be brought together,” says project manager David Szilagyi. “My special thanks go to the property owners, the municipal contacts and all the partners and service providers involved. The trusting cooperation and the great commitment of all those involved have contributed significantly to making the project a success.”
Two decades of site development
ENOVA has been active in the Meppen wind farm for more than 20 years. In the period from 2000 to 2004, the company has already completely developed the fourteen old turbines from planning to approval and implementation. With the approval under the Federal Immission Control Act in July 2023, the starting signal was given for repowering to make the site fit for the future. As part of the first dismantling phase, five existing plants have already been dismantled in 2024. This was followed by the construction of the access road, foundations, cable trays and towers before construction of the new facilities began in November 2025. By August 2026, the remaining old turbines are now also to be dismantled.
