Wind energy instead of lignite

20.08.2025

Source: E & M powernews

The RWE Group has built a wind farm on a former lignite mining site in the Rhenish mining area. The company is generally looking for areas for wind power expansion.

The Essen-based energy company RWE has commissioned the Aldenhoven wind farm with a capacity of 34.2 MW in the district of Düren in North Rhine-Westphalia. The company has been erecting six 5.7 MW wind turbines on a recultivated area of the Inden opencast lignite mine since spring 2024.

According to RWE, this is not the end of the expansion program: Not far from the site in Düren-Merken, RWE is planning to start construction work on two further 7 MW class turbines at the beginning of 2026. The Group has already made the investment decision for this.

In addition to the electricity yield for the company, the municipalities in the region will also benefit from the wind turbines. According to RWE, it pays 0.2 cents per kWh produced to the surrounding communities. According to the company, this is expected to result in annual income of up to 150,000 euros for the Aldenhoven wind farm.

Katja Wünschel, CEO RWE Renewables Europe & Australia: "We value the Rhenish mining area as an ideal wind location. We have already installed wind turbines with a total capacity of 249 MW here, we are currently erecting 77 MW and further turbines are already in the starting blocks."

According to RWE, it is currently building wind farms in Germany with a planned total capacity of 170 MW. In total, the company operates wind turbines with a capacity of 676 MW in its home market.

RWE is looking for suitable sites for wind, solar and battery projects throughout Germany in order to drive forward the expansion of renewable energies. Interested landowners can find information on the RWE website.

Stefan Sagmeister