This spring the dismantling of two aged wind turbines in Harlingerode, which have served faithfully since 2001, is scheduled.
The two “veterans” of the GE 1.5 SL type with a hub height of 85 metres have done a good job over the years. With a total output of 3 MW, they have supplied us with 3.5 million kilowatt hours of clean electricity every year. In purely mathematical terms, that was enough to supply 875 four-person households for 20 years. But now it is time to make room for progress and innovative technologies. As part of a repowering programme, a new Vestas V136 wind turbine is to be installed in place of the old turbines. With an impressive total output of 4.2 MW, this modern turbine will be able to supply three times as much electricity while halving the number of turbines.
The old turbines will not simply disappear, but will be given a second chance. They will be sold to Vestas and will be used as spare parts or recycled after the sale. The foundations, for example, are shredded and later used in road construction. This step not only helps to conserve resources, but also supports the further development of the wind energy industry.
