ENERCON has concluded a supply agreement with German company Alterric for the delivery of 13 turbines of the E-175 EP5 E2 model. The contract was finalised at the Husum Wind trade fair. Installation of the units will begin in spring 2026 at the Kutenholz wind farm, located in the Stade district of Lower Saxony.
One of the first installations of the new model in Germany
The Kutenholz project will be among the first in Germany to feature ENERCON’s new flagship model. With a rotor diameter of 175 metres and a rated output of 7 MW, the E-175 EP5 E2 turbine ranks among the most powerful currently available on the European onshore market. The 13 turbines will be mounted on a new hybrid steel tower with a hub height of 162 metres.
This setup is based on the Hybrid Steel Tower (HST) technology developed by ENERCON. It combines modular steel tower segments with tubular tower sections, optimising logistics and installation processes. The certification for this new tower variant was officially issued by TÜV Süd at the Husum trade fair.
Replacement of existing turbines in a repowering operation
The equipment supplied by ENERCON will replace 20 older E-66 model turbines as part of a repowering operation. Commissioning of the new units is scheduled for the fourth quarter of 2026. The project aims to increase energy output on the same site while reducing the total number of operational machines.
The German Type Approval certificate (DIBt), issued for the HST-162 version of the E-175 EP5 turbine, represents a key regulatory milestone for project validation. It applies to both the E-175 EP5 E1 and E-175 EP5 E2 versions and enables deployment across several international markets.
Industrial outlook for the HST hybrid tower
Other variants of the HST hybrid tower are currently in development or undergoing certification. Upcoming certifications include the HST-175 and HST-166 models, with hub heights reaching up to 132 metres. ENERCON plans to expand its HST portfolio, which could be extended to other segments of the European market.
The HST technology also has potential for manufacturing using low-carbon or even CO₂-neutral steel, although this aspect has not yet been incorporated into the Kutenholz project. According to ENERCON, this feature may positively impact future projects over the medium term.
