German company Gicon has announced the completion of the world’s tallest wind turbine, with a total height of up to 365 metres including the blades, at a wind farm in the eastern German city of Schipkau. The turbine is due to begin generating electricity in November, after its internal electrical wiring is completed.
The turbine’s dimensions and place among the tallest structures
The centre of the turbine’s blades is 300 metres above the ground, while its full height exceeds that of the Eiffel Tower in the French capital Paris, which stands at 330 metres. It has also become the second-tallest built structure in Germany, just three metres shorter than Berlin’s television tower, which reaches 368 metres.
The company said the extreme height doubles the amount of electricity generated because winds at this level are stronger and more consistent than those at lower altitudes. It estimated that the new turbine can produce more than twice the power generated by conventional turbines installed at lower heights.
According to Gicon’s estimates, the turbine can generate electricity on up to 55% of the days in a year, compared with 25% for conventional turbines. The company believes this capability could enable the use of higher wind layers, rather than relying exclusively on the levels currently used at wind farms.
According to the company, the project opens the way for a “second level” of tall turbines above the existing high-turbine level at established wind farms. This approach could address the shortage of land available for wind projects by increasing output at sites already in use, without requiring similarly large new areas.
Technology for lifting the upper section inside the tower
Gicon said it completed construction using a new technology that involves lifting the upper section from inside the tower with cables. Once the structure reached its full height, the remaining work involved completing the internal electrical connections before it could be switched on and enter the power-generation phase scheduled for November.
The project comes as part of Germany’s years-long expansion of renewable energy sources for electricity generation. The country closed its last nuclear power stations in 2023, implementing a long-standing plan despite criticism that followed higher energy prices after the start of the war in Ukraine.
Data from the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research Baden-Württemberg and the German Association of Energy and Water Industries also showed that renewables covered 60.7% of electricity consumption between January and September 2026, the highest rate recorded for this period of the year. Germany aims to generate 80% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030.
