Thousands of Homes Powered by Wind Energy - Leipzig's Stadtwerke's Recent Wind Farm Now Live on Grid
The wind farm towering over Königshain-Wiederau, Mittelsachsen, has come to life, churning out green power for the grid. The Leipzig municipal utilities, in conjunction with wind turbine manufacturer ENERCON and wind park specialists eab New Energy, have grasped the reins of this ambitious project, erecting the first turbine in this municipality last year.
"With the spin of the second facility's rotor blades, we've witnessed the manifestation of our self-developed wind farm - thanks to our top-notch collaborators," beams Dr. Maik Piehler, CEO of the Leipzig municipal utilities. "We stand proud of our efforts; this wind farm enriches our diverse energy mix, bolsters supply security, and is another brick in the wall towards a more eco-friendly future."
Standing tall at a total height of 246.6 meters, each wind turbine is a testament to modern engineering prowess. The crisp, green energy harnessed by these colossal structures is pumped into the Mittweida transformer station via a 13-kilometer transmission line. "Each turbine has a capacity of 5,560 kilowatts, generating power equivalent to the needs of more than 4,600 households per year," elucidates Matthias Jöde, project manager at ENERCON. "In sum, this wind farm provides Green power for approximately 9,000 households."
Building the first phase began in February 2023, with the excavation for the first turbine spearheading the project within the Königshain-Wiederau municipality. By summer, the hybrid tower (part concrete, part metal) had been constructed to a towering 60 meters. A gargantuan 100-meter crane then assembled 30 prefabricated concrete rings on the concrete half (90 meters), followed by a steel half.
"This monstrous crane was also essential for the second turbine, with construction taking place this year," explains Alexander Nattke, project manager of eab. "Transporting the 24-ton rotor blades, each 78 meters long, was an exhilarating spectacle in itself. A self-propelled vehicle with remote control handles the last leg of the journey, lifting the rotor blades for tight corner maneuvers and standing them upright to navigate 90-degree corners."
"Fortunately, everything went off without a hitch - despite encounters with wind and rain, and a fair share of onlookers," shares Jöde. Construction may have taken longer than anticipated due to hiccups with transport permits and suppliers, but the collaborators express appreciation to the local communities for their understanding and patience.
Three partners have already embarked on constructing two more turbines of the same type, located in Mittelsachsen's Kleinschirma. "We aim to connect this second wind farm to the grid before the end of this year," adds Lara Forsans, project manager of the Leipzig municipal utilities. The wind energy march for a cleaner, more sustainable future marches on.
"Dr. Maik Piehler, CEO of the Leipzig municipal utilities, explains the significance of the second wind farm's operation, stating, 'Each turbine has a capacity of 5,560 kilowatts, generating power equivalent to the needs of more than 4,600 households per year, enriching our diverse energy mix and contributing to a more eco-friendly future.'"
"Matthias Jöde, project manager at ENERCON, elaborates on the financial aspect of the venture, stating, 'This wind farm provides green power for approximately 9,000 households, underpinning our commitment to the renewable-energy industry and environmental-science, as well as the broader finance sector'."
"Alexander Nattke, project manager of eab, reflects on the construction challenges faced in the first phase of the wind farm, stating, 'From transporting 24-ton rotor blades to managing tight corner maneuvers, the construction process demonstrated our expertise in the industry and our dedication to the environmental-science sector'"
