25 years Westwind Energy: Kirchdorf remains the center of wind power innovation
25 years Westwind Energy: Kirchdorf remains the center of wind power innovation
The wind power industry has undergone immense development in recent decades, and Westwind Energy from Kirchdorf is a remarkable example. The company celebrates 25 years of successful business under the direction of Gerard Meindertsma and Jörg Osterholz. This anniversary celebration is not only an event for a look back, but also for discussion about the challenges and possibilities of renewable energies.
technological developments in focus
The engineers Meindertsma and Osterholz not only observed the industry, but also actively helped to shape it. They emphasize the importance of hydrogen production as a promising solution for the memory problem of wind energy. "Hydrogen would be the ultimate memory," they explain, while discussing the opportunity to transport hydrogen by ship and use the existing gas infrastructure. This innovative way of thinking could revolutionize the energy supply of the future.
local anchoring and international growth
Westwind Energy has been very regionally anchored in the past 25 years, mainly in the districts of Diepholz and Nienburg. Nevertheless, the view goes beyond the borders. The management team founded a subsidiary in Poland, while projects in Romania and Austria are controlled from Kirchdorf. Long -term success in Australia is particularly interesting, where the Golden Plains Wind Farms show striking progress. This example illustrates that Westwind Energy does not only act locally, but also internationally.
environmental protection and energy transition
With over one million MWh annual electricity production, Westwind Energy can cover the need of around 300,000 households. This production means that around 4.5 million tons of CO₂ are avoided annually. In view of the climate crisis, the role of such companies is crucial in order to achieve the goals of the federal government that would like to make renewable energies the main component of energy supply by 2050. The awareness of the need for wind turbines has changed significantly among the population, although there were initially resistance.
meet the challenges
The founding history of Westwind Energy is characterized by challenges and resistance. The first steps in the wind power industry were not taken without difficulty, as the protests in the Samtgemeinde Kirchdorf prove. Nevertheless, the Meindertsma family remained connected locally, and the employees also mostly come from the region. Such bonds are crucial for the future of the company, since they not only ensure economic success, but also for social acceptance.
continuation with new projects
If you look into the future, numerous projects are in the starting blocks. There are currently several wind turbines under construction, with ambitious plans in Lower Saxony and North Rhine-Westphalia. "There are always new technical developments and requirements that need to be considered," emphasizes Osterholz and emphasizes that innovation is the key to success in this dynamic industry.
Westwind Energy therefore stands as an example of the potential of renewable energies and the need to continuously develop. The path until the 50th anniversary will be accompanied by many other challenges and opportunities, and the Kirchdorfer pioneers invite everyone to take this path together.