Construction of Mercedes-Benz’s planned 140 MW wind farm at its Papenburg test track in northern Germany is underway following the receipt of all key permits and the completion of major contractor and financing agreements. First announced in September 2025, the project will feature 20 Nordex wind turbines. It is expected to begin operations in 2027. Once complete, the 140 MW wind farm will supply enough renewable electricity to cover around 20% of Mercedes-Benz’s annual power consumption in Germany. This is under a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) with developer UKA.
Recent milestones at the wind farm, including turbine procurement, financial close support from lenders LBBW and Helaba, and continued site works, have reinforced the project’s status as one of Germany’s largest onshore wind developments. It is also a cornerstone of Mercedes-Benz’s strategy to power its operations with renewable energy. This is a strategy also being mirrored offshore, with projects such as Germany’s largest in the Baltic Sea, Gennaker wind farm which has signed a PPA with Amazon for about 60% of its capacity.
Mercedes-Benz to Build 140 MW Wind Farm at its Papenburg Test Track in Germany
Reported September 18, 2025 – Mercedes-Benz AG and energy park developer UKA (Umweltgerechte Kraftanlagen GmbH & Co. KG) have received approval to begin construction of Papenburg wind farm a large-scale wind farm at the Mercedes-Benz test track in Papenburg, northern Germany. Scheduled for completion by 2027, the project will feature 20 wind turbines delivering a total capacity of 140 megawatts (MW), supplying around 20% of Mercedes-Benz Group AG’s annual electricity needs in Germany under a long-term Power Purchase Agreement (PPA).
A Major Step Toward Sustainability
The Papenburg wind farm forms a key element of Mercedes-Benz’s long-term strategy to decarbonize its production network. By 2030, the company aims to reduce CO₂ emissions from production by 80% compared to 2018 levels and to source 70% of its energy from renewables at its own sites. Globally, all production plants are targeted to run on 100% renewable energy with zero CO₂ emissions by 2039.
Joerg Burzer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, emphasized the importance of the new facility:
“The wind farm in Papenburg is an important building block of our sustainable business strategy – from an ecological and also an economic perspective. We are proud, together with our partners, to expand the use of wind energy in Germany.”
Collaboration with Leading Partners
UKA, the owner of the future wind farm, will supply Mercedes-Benz with electricity for the next 25 years. The 20 turbines will be supplied by German manufacturer Nordex. Max Bögl Wind AG will provide the concrete foundations and hybrid tower components with hub heights of 164 metres. UKA is also building over 1.5 GW of onshore wind capacity in Germany, positioning the Papenburg project as a flagship initiative.
Gernot Gauglitz, Managing Partner of the UKA Group, also highlighted the project’s speed and scale:
“Despite challenges at the construction site, our team is pressing ahead in record time. This wind farm is a flagship project in our portfolio.”
Ecologically Managed Test Track
The wind farm will be built on the company’s 800-hectare Papenburg test track. Papenburg has been an integral research and development site since 1998. Planning and implementation are being coordinated closely with local authorities and stakeholders to ensure sustainable land use.
As a whole Germany has made great strides in installing wind energy farms one of the most notable being the Nordseecluster offshore wind project comprises Phase A (660 MW) and Phase B (900 MW) for a total capacity of an impressive 1.6 GW.
Factsheet: Papenburg Wind Farm
Location: Mercedes-Benz test track, Papenburg, northern Germany
Capacity: 140 MW (20 turbines)
Completion: By 2027
Energy Supply: 20% of Mercedes-Benz’s annual electricity demand in Germany
Turbine Manufacturer: Nordex (Germany)
Foundations & Towers: Max Bögl Wind AG
Ownership & Operation: UKA Group (Power Purchase Agreement with Mercedes-Benz for 25 years)
Site Size: 800 hectares
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