Wind energy project developer Volkswind has officially commissioned a wind turbine in the municipality of Burbach, North Rhine-Westphalia. Located on Herrenberg, the modern turbine will feed around 7 million kilowatt-hours of green electricity into the Westnetz grid each year. In purely mathematical terms, this is enough to supply around 1,800 four-person households in the region.
The Vestas V117 turbine has a rated capacity of 3.45 megawatts and a hub height of 116.5 metres. Construction began in late summer 2024.
Before the wind farm was commissioned, comprehensive environmental surveys were carried out. A range of measures is being implemented to compensate for the impact on nature.
“We place great importance on implementing our projects sustainably,” says Lars Kröner, Managing Director of Volkswind GmbH. “After construction, temporarily used work areas will be replanted with native trees and shrubs to create woodland-edge habitats. In addition, a spruce forest in the Gilsbach district that was destroyed by bark beetles will be converted into a broadleaf forest suited to the local conditions.”
Both areas will be maintained and protected for ten years to ensure their long-term ecological enhancement.
The new turbine is the first of several projects Volkswind plans to implement in the region. The company has already received permits for two more wind turbines in the municipality of Burbach. In the latest auction round held by the German Federal Network Agency, Volkswind secured awards for both turbines, each with a capacity of 6.2 MW.
Construction of the project, which has a total capacity of 12.4 MW, is scheduled to begin in spring 2026. Once completed, the two turbines are expected to generate a further 27.5 million kWh of electricity—enough to supply around 6,900 four-person households.
“We are pleased to announce both the commissioning of our first turbine in Burbach and the upcoming start of construction on two additional turbines,” says Kröner. “Together, Volkswind’s turbines will make an important contribution to a sustainable electricity supply.”
Construction start: August 2024
Turbine type: Vestas V117
Hub height: 116.5 metres
Location coordinates: 50°47’11.2″N 8°05’16.7″E
Rotor diameter: 117 metres
Rated capacity: 3.45 MW
Forecast annual generation: 7,000,000 kWh
Grid operator: Westnetz
