RWE has secured an EEG tender for a 60 MW wind farm, which will begin construction this month on recultivated areas of a former open-cast mine in partnership with the city of Bedburg, Germany.

According to RWE, this is the third wind farm project developed together with Bedburg. With the new "Windpark Bedburg 3," both partners will jointly operate a total of 156 MW of wind energy in the municipality. The wind farm will be built near the existing Königshovener Höhe and Bedburg A44n wind farms.

The nine wind turbines will generate enough green electricity to power approximately 36,500 households. Construction is scheduled to start in April, with commissioning planned for the end of 2026.

The city of Bedburg and RWE each hold a 50% stake in the new wind farm. In addition, RWE will pay €0.002 per kilowatt hour produced to the surrounding communities. The municipality of Bedburg will be the main beneficiary, receiving up to €250,000 annually, while the neighboring city of Jüchen will also receive a portion.

Seven of the new wind turbines will have an installed capacity of 7 MW each, making them among the most powerful onshore turbines. The remaining two turbines will each have a capacity of 5.7 MW. The three wind farms in the Bedburg area highlight the technological progress made in recent years. For comparison, the Königshovener Höhe wind farm, completed ten years ago, features 21 turbines with a combined capacity of around 67 MW, while Bedburg 3 will deliver approximately 60 MW with just nine turbines.

Bedburg’s Mayor, Sascha Solbach, stated that this project “is crucial for the long-term structural transition, but most importantly, for our citizens, as the wind farm’s revenues will benefit our city and, therefore, its residents.”

Katja Wünschel, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, added: “Good things come in threes, and I’m delighted that we can quickly build another wind farm together with the city of Bedburg. Our shared goal of expanding wind energy and making full use of the optimal conditions on reforested land is the foundation of our long-standing, trusted partnership—one that will benefit all residents of Bedburg.”