At the Pritzwalk West wind farm in Brandenburg, greenwind has successfully optimized an existing wind turbine for noise reduction. The Vestas V112, with a rated output of 3.45 MW and a hub height of 140 m, was approved in 2018 and had previously been operated only in noise-reduced mode at night. With the recently granted amendment permit, the turbine may now also be operated in Power Mode at night.

For the operator, this represents a clearly measurable added value: The projected increase in energy yield resulting from the optimization is approximately 700 MWh per year. This additional yield is achieved solely by adjusting the nighttime operating mode—without constructing new turbines and without requiring additional land.

The Approach:

The goal of the amendment request under Section 16b(8) of the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) was to reassess the existing facility’s leeway under immission control law and to determine whether more powerful nighttime operation is possible without violating noise control requirements. Particularly in the case of wind turbines that have already been approved, a precise reassessment of the noise situation can reveal significant potential—especially when the legal landscape changes.

We supported the project from the acoustic analysis through the expert assessment to the management of the amendment process. This included reviewing the existing permit status, evaluating the relevant noise requirements, preparing the noise assessment report, and providing technical support throughout the application process, through to the technical implementation and documentation of the new operating mode.

The project demonstrates that optimizing existing wind turbines can be a key component in increasing renewable electricity generation.