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, while Max Bögl Wind AG will provide the concrete foundations and hybrid tower components with hub heights of 164 metres. UKA is currently 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, 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, 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 hte 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
