In the Düren district, RWE is erecting six wind turbines that will generate a total of 34.2 megawatts at the recultivated Inden open-cast mine site. This project was awarded to RWE by the Federal Network Agency in December of the previous year, marking an important milestone for the company’s sustainability initiatives in the Rhine lignite region.
Sustainable infrastructure and local support
The turbines at Aldenhoven will be connected to RWE Power’s substation at the Inden mine, integrating the electricity generated into the existing grid. Katja Wünschel, CEO of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia, emphasized the rapid implementation of the project, the result of constructive collaboration with local authorities, the municipality and other regional stakeholders.
Production capacity and local implications
Once commissioned in summer 2025, these facilities will produce enough renewable energy to cover the estimated annual needs of 24,000 households. RWE already manages several wind and solar power plants on recultivation sites, including the “RWE indeland Solarpark” in Inden, which since 2022 has been supplying climate-neutral electricity to over 3,500 households thanks to its 26,500 solar modules and integrated battery storage.
Long-term strategy in North Rhine-Westphalia
RWE plans to develop wind and photovoltaic projects totalling around 1,000 MW by 2030 in the North Rhine-Westphalia region.
RWE’s Inden wind farm project illustrates how recultivation of mining land can be used to support the energy transition, aligning environmental objectives with local economic development.
