Nordex feels Green benefit as German wind hopes policy goodwill survives election

Nordex has won a flurry of German wind turbine orders with a combined capacity of 738MW as developers said they are “feeling the positive effects of political decisions” by the country’s outgoing government – but amid uncertainty over what comes next.

Long-term client Wpd ordered nine of Nordex’s Delta4000 series machines with a combined capacity of 48MW for wind farms in three German states, which will all be delivered and installed this year. Due to Germany’s population density, wind farms in the country usually are relatively small, but jointly account for large volumes.

“In our important German home market, we are increasingly feeling the positive effects of the political decisions and will continue to work with Nordex to advance important projects that will help us achieve our national climate targets,” Wpd managing director Hartmut Brösamle said.

Germany last year added a record 20GW of new renewable energy capacity, the federal grids agency (BNetzA) said yesterday. Of that, 16.2GW came from solar, 2.5GW from onshore wind, and 0.7GW from offshore wind.

“The rapid expansion is having an effect. Renewable energies are now taking over the main role in electricity generation in Germany - measured against the total generation in Germany, 254.9TWh or almost 60% came from renewable energy sources,” Habeck said.

“We have consistently simplified and accelerated the approval procedures over the last two years. The expansion and approval dynamics are finally benefiting noticeably from this.

“With the approvals, we are setting the course for dynamic expansion in the future.”

BNetzA president Klaus Müller added: “When it comes to onshore wind, I am optimistic that permits for almost 15GW of capacity have been issued in 2024. This will pay off in increasing numbers of new installations in the coming years."

Nordex also won orders for energy projects in six German states by developer UKA that have a combined capacity of 540MW. The 80 turbines in the 5 and 6MW class are slated to go into operation next year.

"This order increases the project volume that UKA currently has in the construction phase with Nordex in Germany to a total of 1,070 MW,” UKA managing director Stefan Kath said.

Karsten Brüggemann, Vice President Region Central of the Nordex Group, added: “The success of the energy transition in Germany is not only the result of good technology but also of the long-term partnership between all those involved.

“The new wind farms will further support the path of self-sufficient energy supply in the state. After all, wind is a domestic energy source in Germany and not a scarce resource to be imported.”

Another large order came from onshore wind developer DenkerWulf, for several wind farms in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein with a combined capacity of 148MW.

All orders came in at the end of 2024.