Ørsted successfully commissions the Bahren West I wind farm in southeastern Brandenburg. At the same time, the company announces the final investment decision (FID) for the second construction phase, Bahren West II. Construction is scheduled to begin in May.
The Bahren West wind farm is located on the German-Polish border in the municipality of Neiße-Malxetal in the Spree-Neiße district. The project underscores Ørsted’s commitment to driving the energy transition in Germany and consistently expanding its onshore wind portfolio here. “We are pleased to simultaneously announce the operation of Bahren West I and the imminent start of construction of Bahren West II,” says Stefan Bachmaier, Managing Director of Ørsted Onshore Germany.
About Bahren West I
The Bahren West I project comprises nine Vestas V150-6.0 MW wind turbines, each with an output of 5.6 MW. The wind farm has a total output of 50.4 MW. Construction began in March 2023. After two years of construction, Ørsted successfully commissioned the wind farm in early March 2025. The substation, built specifically for the wind farm by Ørsted, was commissioned at the end of 2024 to ensure a stable grid connection and energy supply.
About Bahren West II
The new Bahren West II wind farm represents the second expansion phase of the Bahren West project and will consist of eleven Vestas V150-6.0 MW wind turbines, each with an output of 5.6 MW. With a total capacity of 61.6 MW, the wind farm will generate enough green electricity to supply the equivalent of 45,000 German households. Completion is planned for 2027.
Bahren West I and II comprise a total of 20 wind turbines and have a combined capacity of 112 MW. This makes Bahren West one of the largest forest wind farms in Brandenburg and makes a significant contribution to the energy transition of this large, expansive state and important economic location in Germany.
Stefan Bachmaier, Managing Director of Ørsted Onshore Germany, says: “The two projects are significant milestones for Ørsted’s onshore wind ambitions in Germany. With Bahren West as one of Brandenburg’s largest forest wind farms, we are not only making a strong contribution to Germany’s renewable energy goals, but also reaffirming our commitment to providing clean, reliable, and sustainable energy.”
“Ørsted and Vestas have long shared a common vision of driving the European energy transition and accelerating the expansion of renewable energies – also to strengthen European energy security,” says Jens Kück, Senior Vice President, Vestas Sales Onshore. “We are also somewhat proud that, following the successful commissioning of Bahren West I, we have been awarded the contract for Bahren West II.”
High community participation and sustainable implementation
“As with all our projects, we pay attention to sustainable implementation. This ranges from species and nature conservation to the financial participation of local communities, which in this specific case amounts to several million euros,” says Stefan Bachmaier, Managing Director of Orsted Onshore Germany.
The Bahren West project’s high regional added value is made possible by the financial participation of the municipalities of Neiße-Malxetal and Forst (Lausitz), located within a 2.5-kilometer radius. Ørsted offers a municipal bonus of 0.2 cents per kWh of wind power generated annually in accordance with the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). In addition, Brandenburg has a special levy for wind energy, which benefits the municipality of Neiße-Malxetal.
Bahren West I alone will generate additional revenue of approximately €200,000 per year for the municipality of Neiße-Malxetal. Over the entire 20-year operating period, this will generate approximately €4 million, which the municipality can use for non-restricted purposes to advance important local projects.
Project profile Bahren West I
Wind turbines: 9 x Vestas V150 (5.6 megawatts per turbine)
Total output: 50.4 megawatts; equivalent to 35,000 households Annual
CO2 savings: 79,000 t
Hub height: 166 m
Rotor diameter: 150 m
Start of construction: March 2023
Commissioning: March 2025
Project profile Bahren West II
Wind turbines: 11 Vestas V150 (5.6 megawatts per turbine)
Total capacity: 61.6 megawatts; equivalent to 45,000 households Annual
CO2 savings: 100,000 t
Hub height: 166 m
Rotor diameter: 150 m
Expected start of construction: May 2025
Planned commissioning: 2027
