Does my old lease contract still apply in repowering?

That depends on the contract text. Modern lease contracts often contain a repowering clause that provides for an extension of 20 to 25 years — the rent then adjusts to the new, higher turbine capacity. Older contracts frequently lack this clause, in which case the parties must renegotiate or conclude a new contract.

Guide · Lease & Repowering

What happens to the lease contract in repowering?

Q: Does the rent rise in repowering?

As a rule, yes. The new turbine typically generates two to three times as much as the old one; with a revenue-based rent (4 to 7 percent of the electricity revenue), the annual rent rises accordingly. Pure fixed rents per MW or per turbine are usually renegotiated.

In short: The repowering event is usually the most important moment for negotiation over the entire lease term. Either the old contract contains a repowering clause with an extension — or a new contract is drawn up. In both cases the rent generally rises significantly, because the new turbine generates a multiple of the old output.

Three typical starting positions

Contract situation	Consequence in repowering
Repowering clause in the old contract	Contract extends automatically by 20–25 years, rent adjusts according to the agreed formula
Lease end coincides with EEG end	Renegotiation — the strongest negotiating position for the landowner
Old contract continues, repowering planned	Addendum required (turbine type, number, rent methodology)

Rent mechanics in repowering

With a revenue-based rent (4 to 7 percent of the electricity revenue, the common standard), the rent rises roughly in proportion to the increase in yield. A 6 MW turbine instead of a 1.5 MW turbine means, depending on the site, roughly three to four times the annual revenue and thus rent. A rough estimate of the new yield is provided by the repowering yield calculator; recommended reading on the rent question itself: lease income.

Pool models as a fair solution within the park

In repowering, fewer but larger turbines are often built — the turbine locations shift. So that suddenly only one owner profits and others come away empty-handed, a land pool (Flächenpool) is the usual answer: all land owners in the park share the total rent according to their share of the area, including access roads and cabling. More background under lease & site acquisition.

Negotiating leverage for owners: repowering permits are site-bound — the project developer is dependent on the existing land. This is the best position to push through a revenue-based rent, a fair pool, and an inflation adjustment if that is missing from the old contract.

Frequently asked questions

Can I terminate the contract during repowering?

As a rule no, as long as the old contract is still running and the operator fulfils its obligations. But: repowering is practically not feasible without a mutually agreed contract amendment — that is your bargaining chip.

What if the repowering location shifts?

The usual approach is to bring all owners of the old locations into the new pool — even if the new turbine no longer stands exactly on their land. Without a pool, conflicts arise that can delay or prevent a repowering.

When should I seek legal advice?

Before signing any addendum or new contract. We do not provide individual legal advice (RDG, the German Legal Services Act), but on request we put you in touch with experienced specialist lawyers/notaries via the contact page.

Lease contract in repowering – scenarios, rent mechanics and land pool model