Energiequelle GmbH has connected three wind turbines to the grid at Weddelbrook and Föhrden-Barl in Schleswig-Holstein. The Vestas V150 machines have a hub height of 148 metres and a combined capacity of 18 MW. They are expected to generate about 47,000 MWh a year, which the company equates to the average consumption of roughly 9,100 households.
The turbines stand on an area designated for wind energy in the regional plan. The project was permitted in December 2023 and won a feed-in tariff award from the Bundesnetzagentur in July 2024. Construction began in October 2024, and commissioning started on 7 September 2026.
Energiequelle said the build was at times affected by difficult weather. High groundwater levels in the winter months complicated work on the cable route, and the resulting delays pushed back the start of operation.
To protect large birds and birds of prey, the operator uses mowing management, under which the turbines are temporarily switched off during harvesting if needed. Diversion areas have also been laid out to keep the birds away from the turbines. Residents were able to invest from EUR 3,000 in a citizen participation scheme that pays a fixed 5 per cent over four years.
“With the commissioning of the three turbines we are reaching an important milestone,” said Eva Sommer, team leader for project management at Energiequelle. The company, founded in 1997, says it has connected more than 850 turbines to the grid.
