Sophie Kolb is planning the employee-owned wind turbine from greenwind, Freudenberg Nord (Brandenburg) – a V 150/5.6 MW with a total height of 244 metres. In fact, this poses a particular challenge for the long-standing greenwind employee, since she is “always happy once a project is approved” and at the same time this task gives her “a special push!” Let’s ask her:

How does it actually feel to plan a plant that you will own in part?

Sophie: I am very proud that our partners Manuel and Martin want to share their future plant with us. The entire team is greatly appreciated. However, the challenges in project planning remain unchanged, and the motivation to obtain a licence after years of work is just as high as with any other plant.

Do your colleagues keep a particularly sharp eye on you here?

Sophie: Especially the teams from the other departments ask interested and understandable questions about the current status. Our project development team is very familiar with the processes. The other greenwind departments are not usually fully involved in such a project development process. And now they find out how complex and time-consuming it actually is. Fortunately, the plant has already been approved and now the award procedure follows.

What is so special about the project – apart from the fact that the facility will belong to everyone in the team?

Sophie: This is our first project in the forest. There was a public process and months of waiting for the public easement from the building authority. Then a change of the access route made it necessary to involve the public again. Last but not least, there were new laws in the five years of the approval process and therefore new additional requirements and updates to the statements of the authorities involved.

What is the current status?

Sophie: Approval was granted in December 2024 and the forest area was cleared in winter 2025, for which there are also extensive compensation measures in Dannenberg. 12,406 m² of 25,000 m² for the Freudenberg Nord project. The remainder is divided between the Freudenberg Mitte, Süd and Schönfelde projects.

Contract negotiations are currently underway with the manufacturer Vestas. A hybrid tower was originally planned, but due to supply bottlenecks, we are currently examining whether we should switch to a steel tower. We will then take part in the Federal Network Agency’s tender. In autumn 2025, the route and cable tray construction is to take place. Our best-case scenario target: delivery and commissioning in winter 2026/27.

Which greenwind business areas are involved?

Sophie: Project Development is involved in the Federal Network Agency’s tender, the transfer to and authorisation of the project company. The construction phase is handled by greenwind Construction. Our technical operations management makes preparations for smooth technical operation, e.g. contracts/insurance. The commercial management team is involved with the establishment of the project company, payments during the construction phase and lease payments during the operating period. Discussions are held with the bank and the manufacturer regarding financing. And then the entire investment model has to be developed from a tax and legal perspective. There is no blueprint for this. In other words, the entire greenwind Group is fully involved.

Dear Sophie, thank you very much indeed – good luck!

The interview was conducted by Anke Kuckuck