X-Wind: Developing innovative high-altitude wind power plants
The Germany company X-Wind has developed a wind power technology that utilises the strong and steady laminar winds at an altitude of about 400 m, resulting in nearly continuous power generation.
Thanks to their high annual output of energy, X-Wind power plants solve one of the major problems of the green energy transition, as they generate electricity even when most other renewables provide little or no power. This reduces the need for storage technologies or peak load power plants which use fossil fuels.
About the project
X-Wind is in dialogue with selected municipalities in Innlandet county on development of a 400-hectare site that is expected to be operational by 2027/2028.
X-Wind has plans for an installed capacity of up to 280 MW and a production ability of 2 TWh per year, making a CAPEX of EUR 700 million necessary.
The construction phase will create around 250 jobs. Some 50 to 100 jobs will be created during operation, in addition to indirect jobs. Only 4 to 5 per cent of the required land will effectively be used, allowing space for e.g. solar farms and power-intensive industrial plants or simply leaving the remaining land untouched.
The project is environmentally friendly, with no harm to birds, bats or insects, and is safe for air traffic. The power plants are quiet, with noise at whispering level around the energy station. They are nearly invisible from a distance and will be built with 100 per cent renewable materials. X-Wind aims to meet at least 50 per cent of Innlandet’s energy needs by 2030.
How Invest in Norway helped
The Invest in Norway team has been instrumental in guiding X-Wind since its arrival in Norway in 2023, providing extensive support in all aspects of X-Wind’s Norwegian journey.
The team will continue to assist X-Wind with additional projects in Norway.
“Invest in Norway makes a substantial contribution to the development of our innovative technology in Norway. From the very beginning, our challenges there were understood so that they could provide us with targeted support. The scope of services goes beyond classic matchmaking, as they also gave us essential guidance during the processes. In addition to Norway, X-Wind is also setting up projects in other European countries. It should be emphasised that no other country has yet come close to the quality of support in Norway. You can say that they are leaders in this regard. Thanks to the supervisors at Invest in Norway who do a fantastic job.”
Ertu Taner
Chief Operating Officer, X-Wind Powerplants GmbH
- JK
Jørn Fallet Kristensen
Investment Manager | Innlandet region
