VSB has commenced construction of the 18 MW Liethe-Lehmden wind farm repowering project in the municipality of Rastede, Lower Saxony, Germany. The project will replace four existing wind turbines with three modern, higher-capacity units, significantly increasing renewable electricity generation at the site.
The repowered wind farm will feature three Vestas V150 turbines with a combined installed capacity of 18 MW, replacing four NEG Micon NM52 turbines, each rated at 0.9 MW. The existing installation has a total capacity of 3.6 MW, meaning the project will increase installed capacity fivefold while reducing the number of turbines.
Once operational, the upgraded wind farm is expected to generate enough renewable electricity annually to meet the equivalent electricity demand of approximately 11,300 three-person households. Annual power generation is projected to increase more than tenfold compared with the existing facility, highlighting the efficiency improvements achievable through modern wind turbine technology.
The Liethe-Lehmden development marks VSB’s first wind farm project in Lower Saxony and is being managed through the company’s regional office in Osnabrück. The project represents an important step in VSB’s efforts to expand its renewable energy portfolio across Germany.
Construction activities have begun following the completion of preliminary archaeological investigations at the site. Current work includes establishing construction facilities, developing access roads and preparing crane hardstands required for turbine installation.
The project faces specific geotechnical challenges at one turbine location, where waterlogged soil and peat deposits require additional ground preparation measures. These works are intended to improve soil stability, maintain suitable construction conditions and ensure sufficient load-bearing capacity for heavy equipment and turbine foundations.
VSB expects foundation preparation activities to be completed by the end of 2026, representing a key milestone in the project’s construction schedule.
The dismantling of the four existing NEG Micon NM52 turbines is scheduled to begin in February 2027. Deliveries of components for the three new Vestas V150 turbines are expected to commence in June 2027.
A self-propelled blade transporter will be deployed to transport the large rotor blades to the construction site, supporting the logistical requirements of installing modern wind turbines.
Commissioning of the repowered Liethe-Lehmden wind farm is planned for late summer 2027.
Commenting on the development, Thomas Winkler, Managing Director of VSB in Germany, highlighted the importance of modernising established wind energy sites to improve renewable electricity generation.
He stated that the start of construction represents a significant step in upgrading a location with a long history of wind power production, allowing the project to substantially increase electricity output through the installation of more efficient turbines.
Alongside the Liethe-Lehmden project, VSB is advancing additional wind energy developments in Lower Saxony. In July 2026, the company secured approval for the Oldenbrok Süd wind project, located approximately 20 kilometres from Liethe-Lehmden, with a planned installed capacity of 14 MW.
The two developments reflect VSB’s continued focus on expanding wind energy capacity in the region through new projects and the modernisation of existing installations.
The Liethe-Lehmden repowering project also demonstrates the growing importance of replacing older wind turbines with higher-capacity equipment to maximise electricity generation from established renewable energy sites.
By increasing installed capacity from 3.6 MW to 18 MW and delivering more than ten times the previous annual electricity generation, the project is expected to contribute to Germany’s renewable energy expansion and broader energy transition objectives.
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