First test of ENERCON’s E-175 EP5 E2 turbine in Germany

ENERCON’s E-175 EP5 E2 prototype fed electricity into the grid for the first time this week. The model is positioned as the new flagship in the German manufacturer’s onshore turbine range.

Share:

Subscribe for unlimited access to all the latest energy sector news.

Over 150 multisector articles and analyses every week.

For less than €3/week*

*For an annual commitment

*Engagement annuel à seulement 99 € (au lieu de 149 €), offre valable jusqu'au 30/07/2025 minuit.

The prototype of ENERCON’s E-175 EP5 E2 turbine successfully completed its first electricity production test this week, feeding its first kilowatt-hour into the grid at Wachendorf in Lower Saxony. The milestone marks a key stage in the company’s prototype programme.

“This is great news,” said Jann-Hendrik Wehmeyer, Project Manager Generator in the E2 programme at ENERCON. “The entire team worked very hard to complete this important milestone,” he added.

One of the most powerful turbines on the European market

The E-175 EP5 E2 turbine has a rated power of 7.0 MW and a rotor diameter of 175 metres. These specifications place it among the most powerful and highest-yielding onshore models in the European market, according to data released by ENERCON.

The turbine is the top model in the EP5 series, designed to optimise production on high-potential onshore sites. It succeeds the base E-175 EP5 version, which delivers 6.0 MW of rated power.

Innovative generator designed for modular transport

The E-175 EP5 E2 features a newly designed generator with an external rotor, a configuration chosen to allow for a larger air gap diameter. This design aims to generate higher torque and, therefore, greater power output.

To enable more efficient transport, the generator is built in two halves, delivered separately, and assembled on-site during system installation. This approach was applied for the second time at Wachendorf, following an initial test stand installation in Aurich.

Power ramp-up and technical validation ongoing

The installation at Wachendorf proceeded without incident, according to information provided by ENERCON. The company now plans a gradual power ramp-up to reach the turbine’s full rated capacity.

Additional test campaigns and measurements are scheduled to validate the performance of the new system. These steps are essential before a potential move to serial production of the new technology.

Encavis AG continues its growth in Germany with the acquisition of a 34-megawatt wind project in Sundern-Allendorf, sold by PNE AG and secured by a twenty-year feed-in tariff.
The last monopiles manufactured by Navantia Seanergies and Windar Renovables have been delivered to Iberdrola for the Windanker offshore project, marking a major milestone for the European XXL offshore wind component manufacturing industry.
Envision Energy's two-blade prototype has now reached over 500 days of continuous operation, achieving a 99.3% availability rate and confirming its potential compared to industrial standards.
RWE signs long-term agreements with North Star for four new service vessels, strengthening maintenance of its offshore wind farms in the United Kingdom and Germany amid a tight market for specialised maritime capacities.
AMEA Power partners with Cox for the second phase of the Agadir desalination plant, set to reach 400,000 m³/day with power supplied by a 150 MW wind farm in Laayoune.
Buhawind Energy Northern Luzon Corporation secures grid connection study approval, bringing the launch of one of Southeast Asia’s largest offshore wind projects closer.
France receives approval from the European Commission for a major public financing of EUR 11bn aimed at three floating wind projects totalling 1.5 GW, with a framework strengthening the national industry.
The new Vilpion onshore wind farm, led by TotalEnergies and RWE in Aisne, has a capacity of 15 megawatts and marks a milestone for the renewable energy industry in France.
Koehler Renewable Energy and CMB Energy formalise a joint venture to develop, operate and acquire wind farms targeting one gigawatt of installed capacity by 2030, with potential expansion into solar and storage.
Gentari and Amazon Web Services have entered into an 80 MW power purchase agreement in India, marking a major step for large-scale wind energy development in the region.
Washington removes regulatory requirement mandating biennial publication of five-year schedule for offshore renewable energy auctions, offering increased flexibility to Interior Secretary.
Europe aims for 84 GW of offshore wind by 2030 versus 36.6 GW currently. Port and naval investments require an additional 6.4 billion euros.
ERG launches a new 47.3 MW wind farm in Corlacky, featuring eleven turbines, bringing its installed capacity in the United Kingdom to 340 MW and confirming its investment strategy.
A2A and ERG have concluded a fifteen-year power purchase agreement for 2.7 terawatt-hours, consolidating wind energy supply and price stability for Italian businesses and households.
CPS Energy launches a tender to acquire up to 400 megawatts of wind energy, marking its most significant sector solicitation in over a decade and aiming to strengthen its energy portfolio.
JERA and bp have created JERA Nex bp, a 50:50 joint venture focused on developing, owning and operating a global offshore wind portfolio of 13GW, strengthening their position across European and Asian markets.
ERG S.p.A. reports consolidated EBITDA of €274 mn in the first half of 2025, impacted by unfavourable wind conditions, but sees quarterly results improve thanks to the commissioning of new wind and storage assets.
The first of three floating wind turbines from the Éoliennes flottantes du golfe du Lion project has been installed offshore, marking a major milestone for the industrial sector off the coast of Leucate and Barcarès.
The US wind market recorded 91% growth in the first quarter of 2025, but new regulatory restrictions and the planned end of tax credits threaten the sector’s future.
The Trump administration cancels federal offshore wind zones, threatening 77,000 jobs and $12bn in annual investments in a sector currently employing 120,000 people.
Consent Preferences