RWE has secured a contract for its Rethen-Vordorf onshore wind farm in the latest renewable energy auction conducted by the Federal Network Agency, advancing its onshore wind expansion strategy in Germany.
Located in the Gifhorn district of Lower Saxony, the project involves repowering an existing wind farm by replacing three ageing wind turbines with three modern, higher-capacity units. The upgrade will increase the site’s installed capacity from 5.4 MW to 21 MW, nearly quadrupling its generation capacity while retaining the same number of turbines.
Once operational, the wind farm is expected to generate enough renewable electricity to supply approximately 17,000 households. Construction is scheduled to begin shortly, with commissioning targeted for the end of 2027.
As part of the project, RWE said the surrounding municipalities and local initiatives will benefit from revenue-sharing contributions. The company will allocate 0.3 euro cents per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated to local authorities and community projects, including the 0.1 euro cents per kilowatt-hour required under Lower Saxony’s Participation Act. According to RWE, this could generate up to €165,000 annually for the local region.
Commenting on the project, Sopna Sury, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, said the Rethen-Vordorf project demonstrates the value of repowering existing wind farms by generating significantly more renewable electricity from the same site while delivering economic benefits to surrounding communities.
The project forms part of RWE’s broader renewable energy expansion strategy in Germany. The company currently operates around 770 MW of onshore wind capacity across the country and continues to expand its renewable energy portfolio through wind, solar, and battery storage developments. RWE also maintains seven regional offices across Germany to support the development of regionally focused renewable energy projects and is actively seeking additional sites for future clean energy investments.
