Prowind is planning one of the largest wind energy developments in the region in the district of Osnabrück: a total of around 20 wind farms with an investment volume of around 600 million euros. The projects are spread across several locations throughout the district and will make an important contribution to climate-friendly electricity supply in Lower Saxony.
In total, the development currently comprises 53 wind turbines. In the future, this will be able to generate green electricity for around 720,000 people. In addition to contributing to climate protection, the planning, construction and operation of the turbines will also provide economic impetus for the region – for example for local companies and jobs.
“The energy transition needs concrete projects and substantial investment,” says Johannes Busmann, Managing Director of Prowind. “With our projects in the district of Osnabrück, we are showing that the industry is ready to invest on a large scale – provided the framework conditions are right.”
At the same time, the industry faces economic challenges. Falling award prices are increasing the pressure on projects and require adjustments along the entire cost structure.
A key issue for implementing large wind energy projects is currently grid infrastructure. Connection to high-capacity grid points and substations is increasingly becoming a bottleneck.
Prowind has therefore already invested in two of its own substations to ensure that the electricity generated can be fed into the supra-regional grid. As renewable energy continues to expand, this infrastructure is becoming ever more important for a stable energy system.
“For investments of this magnitude to be realised, it is crucial that grid infrastructure and approval processes keep pace,” says Busmann.
The district of Osnabrück offers good conditions for the expansion of wind energy. The planned projects show the investment potential of the energy transition – and how important reliable energy policy frameworks are for their implementation.
Further insights:
An article on the projects around Ankum was also recently published in the Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung: “450 million investment: Prowind plans mega wind power project near Ankum” (Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung, in German).
