Wind power is Germany’s biggest source of renewable energy and the cost of producing it is continually coming down. Now the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), the Federal Republic’s research centre for aeronautics and space, is building a new research centre in Stade district, Lower Saxony, to make the sector even more efficient and cost-effective. The demand for cheaper wind power is driven by the growth of the Power2Gas (green hydrogen) industry and mobility, among other things.

"Wind power has huge potential, which we want to further develop with the help of the Krummendeich Wind Energy Research Park. There is still a significant technological learning curve in many areas," describes Dr Jan Tessmer, who heads the Wind Energy Experiments facility at the DLR, in a press release.

The Krummendeich research park, will be a purpose-built facility to explore how wind energy can be produced more economically and sustainably, with less noise pollution. It will feature two ultra-modern turbines with a ground-to-blade-tip height of 150 metres that will feed into the grid. A third, smaller turbine will have a modular design so that different components can be tested. They will be constructed with lighter, more robust materials with integrated regulation and control.

Five field measuring masts will monitor the turbine data and transmit it back to the control room and laboratory on site. Reducing the environmental sound impact of wind farms will also be a major focus, in order to improve public acceptance as more plants must be built to meet growing demand.

The DLR is working together with its partners in the Wind Energy Research Association (FVWE) and other industry partners to power innovation in the wind sector. The next generation wind park will be ready to feed in electricity in a trial run by the second half of 2022.