This is the third wind farm project between the two partners: RWE and the town of Bedburg are building nine more wind turbines with a total output of around 60 megawatts (MW) on recultivated land at the Garzweiler open-cast mine. With the new 'Windpark Bedburg 3', the two partners will then operate a total of 156 MW of wind power in the municipality of Bedburg. Construction of the wind farm, which will be built in the immediate vicinity of the existing 'Königshovener Höhe' and 'Bedburg A44n' wind farms, is scheduled to begin in April.
Sascha Solbach, Major of Bedburg: “I am proud that the town of Bedburg, together with our partners, has been playing a pioneering role in the region's energy transition for years. This is enormously important for the long-term structural change, but above all for our citizens, because the income from the wind farm will benefit our town and thus the local people.”
Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: “As they say, all good things come in threes, and I am delighted that we are able to quickly realise another wind farm together with the town of Bedburg. Our shared goal of developing wind energy and making the most of the ideal site conditions on the recultivated land is the basis of our long-standing and trusting relationship, which all the people of Bedburg will benefit from.”
As with the 'Königshovener Höhe' and 'Bedburg A44n' wind farms, the town of Bedburg and RWE each hold a 50 per cent stake in the new wind farm. In addition, RWE will pay 0.2 cents for every kilowatt hour produced to the surrounding communities. The municipality of Bedburg will benefit most from the annual income of up to €250,000, but the neighbouring town of Jüchen will also receive a share.
In April 2025, the construction of access roads for the delivery of large components will begin. The recultivated subsoil will then be improved using vibro-displacement compaction. Construction of the foundations is planned for the summer. The nine wind turbines will be connected to the public grid via RWE Power's existing electrical infrastructure at the Garzweiler open cast mine. The last turbine of the new wind farm is expected to be fully operational in the second half of 2026.
Seven of the new wind turbines will each have an installed capacity of 7 MW, and will be among the most powerful for onshore use. The two other turbines will each have a capacity of 5.7 MW. The three wind farms in the Bedburg area illustrate the technical progress that wind turbines have made in recent years. By way of comparison, the Königshovener Höhe wind farm, which was completed ten years ago, has 21 turbines with an installed capacity of around 67 MW, while the Bedburg 3 wind farm has a total capacity of around 60 MW with just nine turbines.
Energy transition in Bedburg on recultivated opencast mining areas
Since 2015, more than just wind farms have been built in Bedburg. Last year, RWE commissioned a photovoltaic plant on a verge along the A44 motorway. In the immediate vicinity, RWE is testing the interaction between agriculture and green electricity generation with its agri-PV demonstration plant. Further renewable energy projects are in the pipeline.
Pictures of wind turbines (credit: RWE) are available at the RWE Media Centre (credit: RWE)