VSB commissions Extertal wind farm

Renewable energy developer VSB has commissioned the Extertal wind farm in the northeast of the Lippe District, North Rhine-Westphalia. The project comprises two Enercon E-138 turbines, which will be officially inaugurated in spring 20

After approximately 14 months of construction and final commissioning work completed in December 2025, both turbines are now reliably feeding energy into the grid. With a combined rated capacity of 8.4 megawatts (MW), the wind farm generates enough electricity to meet the annual needs of around 15,000 people -about one-third more energy than the residents of the municipality of Extertal consume. In accordance with the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), the municipality will receive a financial contribution of 0.2 euro cents per kilowatt hour fed into the grid for each turbine.

“We are pleased to start the year with the grid connection and successful commissioning of the Extertal wind farm,” says Thomas Winkler, Managing Director of VSB Deutschland. “Our thanks go to all partners and companies involved for their professional cooperation as well as the smooth and efficient implementation on site. We would also like to thank the municipality of Extertal and the landowners for their trust in our planning.”

Dr Felix Grolman, CEO of VSB Group, adds: “The Extertal project exemplifies the interplay between technological innovation, regional value creation, and ecological responsibility. The integration of advanced AI solutions across wind farm planning and turbine technology enhances the efficiency and economic viability of renewable energy.”

Outlook: Site restoration and wind farm festival
Restoration work on the turbine sites, access roads, and transport areas will begin as soon as weather conditions permit. The wind farm’s official inauguration will take place in spring 2026 with a festival for the whole family. More information will follow in the coming weeks. 

AI-supported bird protection with harvest/mowing shutdown
During operation of the wind farm, the land beneath the turbines will continue to be used for agricultural purposes. Thanks to automated activity recognition, bird protection and energy generation go hand in hand. Each turbine tower is equipped with four cameras providing a 360° panoramic view. These cameras detect agricultural activities, particularly mowing and harvesting. The image data is processed in real time by an AI system and transmitted to the operations manager via software. When machinery approaches the turbines, the system enables short-term shutdowns, offering additional protection to birds of prey such as red kites while they hunt over the fields during harvest periods.

Further projects in North Rhine-Westphalia
VSB is currently constructing the Arnsberg Wind Farm in the Hochsauerland District. The project will consist of three turbines with a combined installed capacity of 18 MW and is scheduled for commissioning in spring 2027. Since 2022, an additional turbine developed by VSB and built for the local citizens’ energy cooperative in Dörentrup-Wendlinghausen near Extertal has been supplying clean electricity to the region.
 

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