RWE has announced the commissioning of its first wind farm in Rhineland-Palatinate, located on a plateau overlooking the Moselle valley, around 50 kilometres southwest of Koblenz. Named Kail, the site includes three turbines with a combined capacity of 12.9 megawatts (MW), built in just twelve months. The project reflects the German group’s progress in the deployment of onshore wind energy.
A site capable of supplying 7,500 households
Awarded to RWE during the February 2024 onshore project tender, the Kail wind farm will generate electricity for around 7,500 households annually. The company has implemented a financial contribution mechanism for local communities, providing for a payment of €0.002 per kilowatt hour fed into the grid. This mechanism could generate up to €60,000 ($63,500) in annual income for neighbouring municipalities.
The management of RWE Renewables Europe & Australia praised the cooperation between local partners, farmers, and the authorities of the Cochem-Zell district, noting that this coordination enabled construction to proceed on schedule. The project is part of the group’s strategy to strengthen its onshore wind portfolio in Germany.
Resource management and site preservation
RWE stated that the construction was carried out under sustainable material management standards, reusing materials from access roads and crane platforms. Operations were conducted with consideration for archaeological constraints, as the plateau area features several historical sites, including burial grounds from the Bronze and Iron Ages as well as a Roman villa.
Experts mandated by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate conducted preliminary excavations to identify and archive artefacts of interest. No incidents or delays linked to these findings were reported, and the works progressed according to the initial schedule.
A project followed by local communities
The Kail wind farm attracted interest from residents in the region, with several school groups visiting the site during construction. According to RWE, completion of the project strengthens the group’s presence in the German onshore wind market while providing direct economic benefits to nearby municipalities.
This first installation in Rhineland-Palatinate marks a significant milestone for the group in the deployment of its wind energy programme, as the company continues to diversify its generation capacity across Europe.
