After 2.5 Years: Dismantling of an XXL Wind Turbine Raises Questions

Just two and a half years after it went into operation, one of Saxony’s largest wind turbines is being dismantled. The operator notified the Zwickau District Environmental Office on June 16, 2026, of the dismantling of the turbine in Oberwiera (Zwickau District) in accordance with legal requirements, as the District Office stated upon request. The manufacturer will carry out the professional dismantling starting in July 2026.

Noise problems caused discontent

The manufacturer and operator are apparently responding to noise problems caused by the turbine. According to the “Freie Presse,” numerous residents had drawn attention to the problems. The facility, which cost around ten million euros and has a rated output of six megawatts, had only gone online in December 2023. In purely mathematical terms, it can supply up to 5,000 private households. When asked, the mayor of the municipality confirmed the issue but did not provide any details.

According to dpa reports, the facility had an unrestricted operating permit; however, in consultation with the manufacturer Vestas, the wind turbine operated at reduced capacity from the very beginning. Due to the noise issue, the wind turbine’s gearbox was even replaced last year—but this brought only a partial improvement.

Vestas, headquartered in Denmark, has been active on the German market since 1986, according to its own statements, and has installed more than 9,100 wind turbines nationwide to date, with a total capacity of more than 18.5 GW. The company employs approximately 2,300 people in Germany.

Operator and manufacturer agree on dismantling

“We, as the operating company, have reached an agreement with the manufacturer Vestas,” said operator Andreas Berger regarding the dismantling. Neither the manufacturer nor the operator provided further details on the background of the decision, the costs of dismantling, or who will bear those costs. The removal of the 81-meter-long rotor blades alone requires careful planning and incurs high costs for transport vehicles and road closures.

Saxony remains one of the laggards in wind power expansion

In any case, Saxony is a laggard when it comes to wind power. Last year, only 13 new wind turbines were connected to the grid, as reported by the German Wind Energy Association. The Free State thus remains among the laggards in expansion. Saxony contributes a good 64.8 megawatts, or 1.2 percent, of the newly installed capacity nationwide. According to the figures, North Rhine-Westphalia, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein are the frontrunners.

Furthermore, according to the association’s data, Saxony’s wind farm is the oldest in Germany, with an average age of 20.8 years. Seven turbines were decommissioned last year. As of the reporting date at the end of last year, there were a total of 858 wind turbines in Saxony. This represents 2.1 percent of the 29,226 turbines nationwide.