Commissioning is a certainty: Green Wind Construction




The big moment finally arrives – work on the construction of a wind turbine can begin! Following a project development phase that is often lengthy, including all of the necessary approval processes, the first access roads are laid and the foundations are put in place. All of the partners are on board. Maximilian Horn, head of department at the newly founded Green Wind Construction GmbH & Co. KG, is responsible for coordinating the entire construction project right through to commissioning. He and his crew are currently on the road in Beeskow and Schrepkow in Brandenburg state, eastern Germany.

Two wind farms under construction

Setting up and operating an energy farm requires a huge amount of planning and logistics, as well as coordination with the respective manufacturers, service providers, and project developers. This is something that wind energy, photovoltaic and hydrogen projects have in common. At the repowering wind farm in Schrepkow, an N133/4.8 turbine from the manufacturer Nordex is currently being installed in the second phase of construction. In Beeskow, Green Wind Construction is coordinating the installation of the infrastructure for the construction of eight Enercon E 160 turbines as part of a repowering project in cooperation with another project developer.

We ask Max about his career path and the prospects for the new company:

From the bottom up

Maximilian, 39, has worked for greenwind since 2012 – starting out as an intern. He wrote his bachelor’s and master’s theses as a student trainee with the company, obtained his Master of Science in Renewable Energy Systems under the tutelage of Prof. Twele at HTW Berlin University of Applied Sciences, and was immediately hired as a member of greenwind’s technical operations management team. Then came his first project as construction manager: a repowering project in Timpberg involving the dismantling of two V80 turbines and the installation of two V112 turbines. His sphere of responsibility grew with each passing year and each new project, ultimately resulting in the foundation of Green Wind Construction GmbH & Co. KG.

What makes your work so special?

The variety. Every project has its own unique characteristics. At our largest wind farm to date in Vormark, we constructed 14 turbines in six months and installed the first substation. You get a certain feel for each project. The coronavirus lockdown was the big challenge in Freist. In Freudenberg, we applied for and obtained approval for 15 km of cable and installed it in a short space of time. Quick and smooth implementation is always important for our customers. We are agile and work with everyone on an equal footing. This approach has helped us to already commission around 100 MW to date.

What are the prospects for the future?

The upward curve is a sharp one. We have considerably more projects in the pipeline than before. It used to be one or two a year, whereas that figure is set to increase to three or four. The pipeline for the coming years looks like it will involve 15 projects and a total of around 30 wind turbines each with an output of 5 to 6 MW.

Are bottlenecks a possibility?

The expansion of renewable energy and the skills shortage at all levels means we are likely to encounter complications, and we are making corresponding preparations. Of course, we are being proactive when it comes to potential bottlenecks in the areas of connection, specialists, certification assessors, supply chains, and so on. Because we construct larger turbines, that means more complex deliveries that typically require preparatory work with our partner companies, from foundation diggers, road builders and cable installers through to manufacturers. However, we believe we are extremely well positioned thanks to our long-standing network of trusted partners.

What do you like about your job?

At greenwind, I work in an environment whose values and principles I share. I have always had opportunities for personal and professional development here. What I like about my job is that the end point of every project is clear: Commissioning is a certainty! I think there is something extremely satisfying about that.

The interview was conducted by Anke Kuckuck.

Wind farm projects realized to date

Contact us:

Maximilian Horn, Project Manager for Construction and Implementation

E-mail:




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