© Domingos Oliveira / RTL
Luxembourg's latest renewable energy project enters its critical phase this week as crews begin delivering 149-metre wind turbines to Mersch, a logistical feat requiring road modifications and temporary traffic disruptions through 14 August.
Motorists travelling between Angelsberg and Schoos between 4-14 August should expect delays as heavy-duty transporters deliver components for the Mersch wind farm.
The operation will involve moving 57.7-metre turbine blades from India and German-sourced tower sections and nacelles to Luxembourg via northern Germany.
Blades too large to pass through Fischbach
Project Engineer Maxime Kauff of Soler explained the logistical challenges, noting that the blade length requires specialised transport vehicles, as standard configurations cannot navigate Fischbach's roads. Preparation work included road widening using gravel and steel plates, with temporary parking restrictions implemented along the route.
Components will be temporarily stored at three locations – Angelsberg, Sterpenich, and Wemperhardt – before final assembly at Rollingerberg. Municipal authorities are conducting pre-transport surveys to document road conditions and address any potential damage claims.
Wind turbine projects typically stay on schedule
Transport timelines for wind turbine components are determined years in advance by manufacturers like Enercon, according to Kauff. As multiple companies operate across Europe's wind energy sector, Soler must coordinate permits and route planning through a specialised "Komodo" system well before construction begins.
While standard component transports to sites like Angelsberg rarely encounter issues, Kauff noted that blade deliveries face weather-dependent variables. High winds may temporarily halt special transports on narrow roads, and turbine erection could experience one-to-two day delays during excessively windy conditions. Nevertheless, projects typically complete within their announced timeframes.
Wind turbines to be erected in 10-15 days
The project will install two Enercon E-115 turbines, with the model number indicating the rotor's 115-metre diameter. Each turbine features three 57.7-metre blades mounted on a 149-metre tower reaching to the nacelle. The assembly process requires ten to 15 days per unit.
Component deliveries will occur weekly, with the first turbine's parts arriving this week and the second's next week. Assembly will commence after the initial delivery, with the crane relocating to the second site upon completing the first turbine.
Projected output to power 12,200 residents
Prior to construction, Soler conducted detailed wind assessments using a 120-metre measurement mast over twelve months. Based on the collected data, Kauff forecasts each Rollingerberg turbine will generate 13.75 gigawatt-hours annually – sufficient to supply green electricity to approximately 3,000 four-person households (12,200 residents). Commercial operation is anticipated by year's end.
Two specialised convoys have already completed deliveries this week, with four additional transports scheduled before the 14 August deadline. While these operations may cause minor delays along the Angelsberg-Schoos route during morning hours, they offer spectators final opportunities to observe the exceptional logistics involved in wind farm construction.
