Planning · Turbine Concept · Inland Sites

Low-Wind Turbines

Low-wind turbines are the answer to southern German and inland sites: large rotor with a relatively small generator. They reach rated power at lower wind speeds, thereby delivering more full-load hours — at a lower absolute peak output. This suits sites with 5.5–6.5 m/s mean wind speed.

The Concept — Specific Power (W/m²)

Specific power is the ratio of rated power to rotor swept area:

specific power = rated power [W] / rotor area [m²]

Class	Specific Power	Typical Use	FLH Expectation
High-Wind (Class I)	≥ 400 W/m²	Coastal, offshore	3,500+ h/a
Medium (Class II)	300–400 W/m²	Northern Germany	2,500–3,500 h/a
Low-Wind (Class III)	200–300 W/m²	Southern / inland	2,200–3,000 h/a
Extreme Low-Wind	< 200 W/m²	Deep southern Germany	2,500–3,200 h/a

Current Low-Wind Turbines 2026

Manufacturer / Type	Rated Power	Rotor	Specific Power	Hub Height
Vestas V162-5.0	5.0 MW	162 m	243 W/m²	119–166 m
Vestas V172-5.0	5.0 MW	172 m	215 W/m²	175 m
Enercon E160 EP3 4.6	4.6 MW	160 m	229 W/m²	120–166 m
Enercon E175 EP5 6.0	6.0 MW	175 m	249 W/m²	175 m
Nordex N163/5.X	5.7 MW	163 m	273 W/m²	118–164 m
Nordex N175/6.X	6.8 MW	175 m	283 W/m²	179 m
Siemens Gamesa SG170-5.X	5.X MW	170 m	~245 W/m²	115–165 m

Trade-off: Low-Wind vs. High-Wind

	Low-Wind Turbine	High-Wind Turbine
Reaches rated power at	9–10 m/s	12–13 m/s
Full-load hours	Higher (at same wind)	Lower
Absolute annual energy	Lower	Higher
Tower height often	Higher (164–175 m)	Lower (120–140 m)
CAPEX	Higher per MW	Lower per MW
Optimal site	v < 7 m/s	v > 8 m/s

Economic Example: Southern German Site

Site with v = 6.2 m/s at 150 m hub height (typical southern German ridge):

	High-Wind 5.5 MW (320 W/m²)	Low-Wind 5.0 MW (243 W/m²)
FLH expected	2,000 h/a	2,700 h/a
Annual yield	11.0 GWh	13.5 GWh
Investment (rule of thumb)	1,250 €/kW × 5,500 = 6.9 million €	1,350 €/kW × 5,000 = 6.8 million €
LCOE	78 €/MWh	65 €/MWh

South bonus (EEG 2024): Turbines in BW (Baden-Württemberg), BY (Bavaria), HE (Hesse), RP (Rhineland-Palatinate), SL (Saarland) receive an additional +0.30 ct/kWh on the reference value. Plus the site quality factor correction for site quality < 70 %. This makes significantly weaker sites viable for permitting and financing.

Low-wind turbines: specific power 200-300 W/m2. Manufacturers 2026: Vestas V172-5.0 (215 W/m2), Enercon E175 EP5 (249), Nordex N163/5.X (273), N175/6.X (283). Economic comparison southern site 6.2 m/s: low-wind 5 MW LCOE 65 EUR/MWh vs. high-wind 5.5 MW 78 EUR/MWh (minus 17%). South bonus +0.30 ct/kWh

Low-wind turbines — manufacturer comparison, trade-offs and economics

Turbine Selection for Your Low-Wind Site?

We connect you with a manufacturer-neutral wind consultant — comparative yield assessment for 3–4 low-wind turbine types at your specific site.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Are low-wind turbines worthwhile in northern Germany too?

Rarely — northern German sites achieve higher absolute yields with high-wind turbines. Low-wind turbines are only economically superior at genuinely low-wind sites (v < 7 m/s).

What about turbulence in forests?

High hub heights (164–175 m) lift the rotor well above vegetation turbulence. Low-wind turbines with 175 m hub produce significantly smoother wind conditions at forested sites than 100 m tower turbines.

Can low-wind turbines be used in repowering?

Yes — in fact, very commonly. When repowering in southern Germany, low-wind turbines are predominantly chosen because they best realise economic viability at locally moderate wind resources.