Two new wind turbines in Iserlohn supply electricity to around 8,750 households

ENERTRAG officially opened the Iserlohn wind farm on 20 May 2026. Since early 2026, two wind turbines have been feeding climate-friendly electricity into the grid from a site in the Iserlohn municipal forest that was previously damaged by a storm. Local residents, landowners, representatives of the town and numerous companies involved in the construction gathered directly between the two turbines for the commissioning ceremony.

Clean energy on a site damaged by Storm Kyrill

The site is located in a forest area that was severely damaged by Storm Kyrill back in January 2007. ENERTRAG now uses this area for the generation of renewable energy, with only minimal impact on the existing forest.

Tom Lange, Head of Wind and PV Germany at ENERTRAG, says: “The site demonstrates that wind energy works in the forest. Damaged forest areas can be put to good use for the energy transition without losing intact forest.”

The two Vestas V150 turbines have a hub height of 166 metres and a total capacity of 12 MW. They are forecast to feed around 35,000 MWh per year into the grid. This corresponds to the calculated annual consumption of around 8,750 households, based on an average consumption of 4,000 kWh. At the same time, the turbines save around 12,500 tonnes of CO₂ annually.

More trees planted than felled

As part of the project, ENERTRAG planted significantly more trees than were felled for the construction. In the immediate vicinity of the turbines and on adjacent land, 5,000 new trees were planted to create a mixed deciduous forest, including English oak, hornbeam, wild cherry and black alder, supplemented by woodland edge shrubs such as field maple, beech and hazel.

The areas directly around the two pylon bases were additionally planted with approximately 30,000 field shrubs, including elder, blackthorn, dog rose, common snowball, red honeysuckle, spindle tree, red dogwood, hawthorn and hazelnut. To ensure the plantings take root successfully, ENERTRAG or a contracted local company is responsible for their maintenance. For example, to ensure good establishment – despite the current rain and cool weather – a temporary irrigation system was installed.

From initial discussions to grid connection

ENERTRAG held its first discussions with the landowners as early as 2018. Approval for the wind turbines followed in January 2024. Road construction began in spring 2024, the foundations were laid in summer 2025, and the towers were erected in autumn 2025. The nacelles and rotors were installed in winter 2025. Both turbines were connected to the grid in early 2026.

ENERTRAG implemented the project in collaboration with the manufacturer Vestas and regional partners specialising in civil engineering, landscaping and ecological construction supervision.

Value creation remains local

Through the participation scheme under Section 6 of the Renewable Energy Act (EEG), around €70,000 flows annually to the local municipalities. The majority goes to the town of Iserlohn, with a smaller share going to the neighbouring town of Schwerte to the north-west. In addition, ENERTRAG regularly supports the Kalthof-Leckingsen-Refflingsen community association.