[PR] Repowering: A Strategic Development Lever for VSB France
/ 21.04.2026
VSB France, an independent power producer, confirms its ambition to make repowering a strategic lever to accelerate the development of onshore wind energy.
At a time when an uncertain energy landscape makes it more crucial than ever to accelerate both the electrification of uses and the energy transition, Programmation pluriannuelle de l’énergie n°3 (PPE3), officially adopted on February 13, places repowering at the forefront of onshore wind development. Having been built up over the past two decades, the French wind fleet is now entering a phase of more intensive renewal. According to PPE3, no less than 5 GW of installed capacity is expected to be repowered in the coming years.
Repowering: An Opportunity for Local Communities
VSB France identified repowering as a powerful growth driver as early as 2018 and established a dedicated team to focus on this segment. To date, the company has secured more than 100 MW of permitted repowering projects (both on behalf of third parties and for its own portfolio). One project is currently being implemented, while a second is in the pre-construction phase. These achievements position VSB France not only as a trusted partner, but above all as a recognized expert in repowering, covering the full lifecycle of a repowering project.
Building on these two projects developed for its own account, VSB aims for repowering to represent between 5% and 10% of its future wind projects over time. Moreover, VSB France is not limiting its efforts to wind repowering alone and has already begun assessing the repowering of photovoltaic plants, which are expected to become a new growth driver for renewable energy developers in the near future.
… and a Key Challenge at the European Level
Alongside its French projects, the VSB Group has launched numerous initiatives across Europe. Its flagship achievement, the Elster Wind Farm in Germany, inaugurated last August, reduced the number of turbines by a factor of three—from 50 to 16 wind turbines—while increasing installed capacity by 3.5 times, from 30 MW to 106 MW. This clearly demonstrates the efficiency of repowering, which enables the deployment of modern, high-performance turbines equipped with the latest available technologies.
“Repowering represents a structuring opportunity for local communities,” explains Maël Lagarde, Managing Director of VSB France. “It allows continued local electricity generation while increasing the output of existing wind farms, often located in areas with strong wind resources. However, this evolution also faces certain constraints, particularly regarding the size of new turbines, which is necessary to achieve the expected performance levels. Regulatory adaptations will therefore be essential to facilitate deployment and fully seize this opportunity, alongside our strategy of developing new projects.”
« With PPE3, France has clearly recognized the strategic importance of repowering. This is not only significant for the domestic market, but also sends a strong signal at the European level. By consistently modernizing existing wind farms, we can make a substantial contribution to security of supply and accelerate the energy transition.», adds Dr Felix Grolman, CEO of VSB Group.
The international wind energy trade fair WindEurope Annual Event 2026 will take place on April 21–23, 2026, in Madrid. Members of the VSB Group executive committee and technical experts will be present throughout the event at stand F50, Hall 10.
