Energiequelle GmbH has begun construction of the Lüben Wind Farm in the district of Gifhorn in Lower Saxony (Germany). The project consists of five state-of-the-art Enercon E‑138 turbines with a hub height of 160 meters. Each turbine has a capacity of 4.26 megawatts, and together they will generate around 77 million kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. This is enough to supply approximately 22,000 households with CO₂-free electricity – an important contribution to the regional energy transition around the municipality of Wittingen.

Approval for the wind farm was granted in December 2024, followed by an award from the Federal Network Agency in the February tender for onshore wind energy. After completion of all preparations, construction of the access roads is now beginning. Commissioning is scheduled for the second and third quarters of 2027.

Lüben is already the second Energiequelle wind farm within a year in the municipality of Wittingen. The Teschendorf Wind Farm, located not far from Lüben, was commissioned last autumn.

Financial Participation for the Region
To involve the municipality and local residents in the project, Energiequelle is implementing several participation models. As already successfully introduced in Teschendorf, residents of Lüben will also be offered an annual electricity bonus of 200 euros, enabling them to benefit directly from the wind farm.

In addition, Energiequelle will provide the town of Wittingen with 0.2 cents per kilowatt-hour generated, in accordance with Section 6 of the German Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). This corresponds to annual revenue of 154,000 euros. The new Lower Saxony Participation Act adds a further 0.1 cents per kilowatt-hour – generating an additional 77,000 euros annually.

Finally, landowners have agreed to contribute part of their lease income to a newly established association in order to support meaningful and beneficial local investments. As a result, the wind farm will not only contribute to sustainable energy supply but will also strengthen the local community.

Tina Hermerding, project leader at Energiequelle, is delighted by the willingness of landowners to contribute a share of their income for the benefit of the community, noting that this is far from a given. She is also pleased about the successful start of construction, as the project’s development phase was long and demanding: “The regional planning process lasted more than ten years and required a great deal of patience. I am all the happier that we can now move into the implementation phase. My thanks go to everyone involved for their perseverance and constructive cooperation.”

The Lüben Wind Farm marks another important milestone for the regional energy transition while also setting an example for successful citizen participation.

Energiequelle GmbH has successfully commissioned a new wind farm in Teschendorf. The project, planned and constructed in the district of Gifhorn, comprises five state-of-the-art Enercon E138 turbines. With a hub height of 131 meters and an output of 4.2 megawatts each, the turbines will generate around 60 Million Kilowatt hours of electricity per year. This is enough to supply approximately 17,000 households with CO₂-free electricity – a significant contribution to the energy transition in Lower Saxony.

The path to realization was long: regional planning alone took ten years, followed by a two-year zoning procedure. Only in June 2024, after a total of twelve years of planning, construction began. The construction phase went smoothly and all turbines were successfully connected to the grid as scheduled in October 2025.

Financial Participation for the Region
The wind farm does not only contribute to sustainable energy supply, it also strengthens the local community. A total of around € 3 million will flow to the city of Wittingen and the surrounding villages.

This is based on Section 6 of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which allows project developers to pay 0.2 cents per generated Kilowatt Hour to the municipalities. For Wittingen, this means annual revenues of around € 120,000 euros. In addition, the Energiequelle Foundation provides € 300,000 for charitable purposes – equivalent to € 15,000 per year. Over a lifespan of 20 years, the city of Wittingen and its districts Teschendorf, Küstorf, Schneflingen, and Mahnburg will receive around € 2,7 million.

Residents of the mentioned districts can also participate directly: after successful registration every household receives an annual power bonus of € 200, guaranteed for ten years. With around 180 households, this amounts to another € 360,000.

For project manager Tina Hermerding financial participation is a key factor for the successful implementation of wind energy projects: “In order to create acceptance for projects in the field of renewable energies, it is important to involve people and the community financially. Through both the EEG and the Energiequelle Foundation, as well as the power bonus, we have established legally sound ways to do this.”

The Teschendorf wind farm is a prime example of successful acceptance work: alongside transparent information policies, financial participation of local residents is a central tool for shaping the energy transition together.

Ingrid, the leading Nordic flexibility and grid-tech company, and Energiequelle GmbH, a leading international renewables developer, operator and service provider, have signed a co-development agreement to deliver 200 MW of grid-scale Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) throughout Germany. Under the partnership, Energiequelle will lead project development, while Ingrid will finance, operate, and optimize the assets using its in-house trading and optimization platform. The BESS projects will be strategically deployed in distribution grids across Germany, targeting locations where flexibility is most needed. Most projects are expected to reach ready-to-build status in 2026.

“This is a landmark partnership for Ingrid in Germany and an important step in our European growth strategy. By 2030, we aim to optimize more than 1 GW of flexible assets in Germany and thereby address challenges in the power grid. Energiequelle’s proven track record and deep market knowledge make the company an ideal partner for us on this journey,” says Axel Holmberg, CEO of Ingrid.

Ingrid already operates or is constructing more than 450 MW (650 MWh) of battery storage and has raised over 300 million euros in capital, making it the leading developer, owner and optimizer in Scandinavia. This includes Finland’s largest storage facility at 70 MW (140 MWh). In addition to energy storage and the optimization of BESS and renewable energy, Ingrid also offers structures for green energy supply and offtake as well as innovative grid services. Alongside its expansion into the German market, the company is also entering France and Spain.

“Our mission is to advance the energy transition with innovative, reliable, and flexible solutions. Ingrid’s expertise in delivering and optimizing large-scale energy storage is a strong complement to our development capabilities. Together, we can create long-term value for society and expand grid stability as part of the energy transition,” says Michael Raschemann, founder and Managing Director of Energiequelle.

Since its founding in 1997, Energiequelle has built around 2,000 MW of grid infrastructure and connected more than 1,700 MW of wind energy to the grid. In addition, Energiequelle develops innovative energy supply solutions for industrial companies, particularly using photovoltaics and battery storage. The company operates in Europe and South Africa.

The deployment of battery storage increases the resilience of power grids, supports the integration of renewable energy, and improves the economics for renewable energy producers. As a result, battery storage is becoming a key pillar of the German energy system on the path to climate neutrality. It also enables better participation in energy and flexibility markets while simultaneously increasing security of supply, as more domestic and dispatchable power becomes available. Electrification in industry and municipalities is also accelerated. Ultimately, these measures lead to stable and affordable energy prices, strengthen regional competitiveness, and support a faster energy transition.

A new wind farm is being built in the municipality of Werther and the rural town of Bleicherode in Germany, featuring four Nordex N163 turbines. Energiequelle GmbH is developing the project in collaboration with local partners Helmetal eG and FEUER powerair GmbH. Each wind turbine will have a hub height of 164 meters and a rated output of 6.8 megawatts. In theory, this will allow the supply of renewable electricity to around 15,000 households and save approximately 37,000 tonnes of CO₂ equivalents annually.

Project development began ten years ago. The application under the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) was submitted in November 2022, and approval was granted in September 2024. Following the successful bid in the wind energy tender in April, construction has officially commenced. Foundation work is scheduled for April 2026, with full commissioning of all turbines planned for January 2027.

Maria Löther, Project Manager at Energiequelle GmbH in Erfurt, expressed gratitude for the perseverance of all involved: “Both the municipalities and the landowners, as well as our cooperation partners, have shown great patience. The start of construction marks an important milestone and confirms that our trust in the project has paid off.”

Hans-Jürgen Weidt, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Helmetal eG, is also pleased about the groundbreaking: “Revenue from the wind farm will help refinance a community wind turbine – laying the foundation for local citizens to benefit from the expansion of wind energy in Thuringia.”

Following the launch in Sömmerda, the Werther wind farm is already the second Energiequelle project to be implemented in Thuringia. Additional wind farms are set to begin construction in 2026.

This week, Energiequelle GmbH celebrates the 15th anniversary of the energy self-sufficient village of Feldheim in Germany. Since 2010, the small village in Brandenburg has been making energy history and is recognized nationwide as the first place with independent electricity and heat supply from renewable sources.

The impressive overall concept for decentralized, renewable energy supply was realized jointly with businesses, private households, and municipalities. Energiequelle planned and built the components of this concept turnkey-ready and using state-of-the-art technology.

The foundation of the electricity supply is the nearby wind farm, currently consisting of 52 wind turbines. Most of the electricity is fed into the public grid, as just one turbine is sufficient to supply Feldheim’s approximately 130 residents. The heat supply is provided by a biogas plant, built in 2009 in cooperation with the agricultural cooperative. When temperatures drop below a certain threshold, a woodchip heating plant kicks in, and for short-term heat demand, a power-to-heat system is activated, powered by green electricity from the wind farm. Since 2010, a battery storage system has complemented the energy supply, balancing short-term fluctuations in the power grid.

A newly constructed distribution system linked the energy sources into a regional energy supply network. This was made possible by building a dedicated local heating network and an independent electricity grid, to which all Feldheim households were connected. To manage this, they founded an energy supply company, Feldheim Energie GmbH & Co. KG, which includes the city of Treuenbrietzen, local businesses, and Energiequelle.

Since October 2010, Feldheim has been officially energy self-sufficient, impressively demonstrating that decentralized energy transition is not just a vision but a lived reality.

Michael Raschemann, founder and managing director of Energiequelle GmbH, is grateful for the strong collaboration with all parties involved: "The openness in Feldheim, along with the willingness and curious interest to make a difference together, enabled the development here. By involving the municipality, businesses and all citizens, we can not only supply the village sustainably with clean energy but also share in the revenues."

Siegfried Kappert, a resident of Feldheim, confirms: "Politically and economically, we unknowingly took the right path back then. Today, we are proud to be part of Feldheim and to share our story." And they do share it. Not only do media outlets from around the world regularly visit Feldheim, but also politicians, school classes, university students, and other interested parties. Beyond technical development, education is a key pillar of Feldheim’s success story. The Neue Energien Forum (NEF) was established as a modern education and experience center, offering guided tours, project days, and an interactive exhibition on renewable energy. In 2024, the NEF was honored with the National Award “Education for Sustainable Development” by the German UNESCO Commission. The exhibition center welcomes more than 3,000 visitors annually.

Michael Knape, mayor of Treuenbrietzen, to which Feldheim belongs, emphasizes not only the importance of Feldheim’s educational work but also its role model function: "Everything that happens in Feldheim is closely coordinated with all stakeholders. And it pays off. Feldheim is a true community project."

This close cooperation between citizens, the city of Treuenbrietzen, and Energiequelle, supported by funding from the state and the EU, laid the foundation for a model project that now has international appeal.

And the development continues. Many of the wind turbines are due for repowering in the coming years. Plans are also in place for a hybrid park and further development of Feldheim as a visitor center.

Octopus Energy’s generation arm and leading German renewables developer Energiequelle have teamed up to launch OQTO-X – a new joint venture aimed at cutting energy costs and emissions for businesses across Europe.

OQTO-X will support commercial and industrial businesses (C&I) across Germany, Austria, Poland, and the Czech Republic by planning and installing solar panels and large-scale batteries, overseeing financing, and helping them efficiently manage the generated energy.

The business aims to invest €200 million (£173m) by 2030 through Octopus’s landmark‘ Sky fund (ORI SCsp), helping to slash industrial carbon emissions and energy costs.

Germany, home to energy-intensive sectors such as chemicals, metals, and steel, ranks among Europe’s top industrial greenhouse gas emitters – with industry accounting for roughly 24% of the country’s total emissions in 2024*.

With over 1.7 GW of clean energy projects across the globe, Energiequelle is one of Germany’s driving forces in the renewables sector.

This marks Octopus Energy’s 10th investment in German renewables in three years, and a major step toward its target of channelling €1 billion into the country’s Energiewende. It now manages over 3.3 GW of solar and wind projects across Germany.

OQTO-X is Octopus’s latest investment in the European C&I sector, building on successful energy deals in the UK, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain.

Germany is Octopus’s second-biggest market after the UK. The company recently reached a major milestone, powering 1 million German homes – the first country outside the UK where Octopus has achieved this feat.

Last month, the global energy and tech business announced it is launching Octopus Electric Vehicles, the UK’s largest EV-only leasing business, in Germany early next year.

Zoisa North-Bond, CEO von Octopus Energy Generation, said: “We're working relentlessly to drive the global energy revolution and make energy better for people and businesses.

We're hugely excited to partner with Energiequelle to bring even more clean energy to Germany, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic – home to some of Europe’s largest industrial centres – and help decarbonise industry in the region.”

Michael Raschemann, Managing Director and Founder at Energiequelle, said: “We see clear benefits in directly supplying companies with locally generated green electricity, making it a forward-looking business area for our company. Our goal is to provide energy from our plants in a way that’s demand-oriented, reliable, and cost-effective."