"Wandpark Eschduerf” wind farm project;
Credit: Soler
On Thursday 11 June 2026, Soler and the Syndicate for Water Supply from the Esch-sur-Sûre Reservoir (SEBES) officially launched construction work on their joint “Wandpark Eschduerf” project with the laying of the foundation stone.
Soler and SEBES said the wind farm, comprising a wind turbine with an installed capacity of 6 MW, marks an important step forward for the country’s resilience. This latest-generation turbine will help power and secure the water supply for a large part of Luxembourg through its direct connection to the water treatment plant at the Upper Sûre Lake, operated by SEBES.
SEBES is a critical component of Luxembourg’s infrastructure, providing almost 50% of the Grand Duchy’s drinking water supply, a figure that rises to as much as 70% during dry summer periods. Overall, the syndicate serves nearly 90% of the population.
Pumping water from the reservoir to the treatment plant, as well as the treatment process itself, requires significant electrical energy consumption, making SEBES the largest consumer of electricity in the municipality of Esch-sur-Sûre.
Committed to reducing its carbon footprint and securing its operations, SEBES decided to turn to renewable energy sources and the photovoltaic panels installed at SEBES’s new production site in Eschdorf already cover 10% of its electricity requirements. For the remaining 90%, SEBES has partnered with Soler to operate a new-generation wind turbine.
Soler and SEBES explained that the uniqueness of the project lies in its dual security system, which further strengthens the resilience of the facilities. Firstly, the joint venture enables the direct supply of electricity to the SEBES site for water treatment purposes. Secondly, in the event of a nationwide electricity outage, the supply remains guaranteed.
When constructing its new site, SEBES installed an electricity transformation station connected to the Creos high-voltage network, which also allows coupling with the Esch-sur-Sûre hydroelectric power station. As a result, continuity of this critically important service can be maintained through different energy sources, strengthening the overall resilience of the system.
Paul Zeimet, Chief Executive Officer of Soler, commented: “We are delighted to see our joint project with SEBES become a reality. This is the first E-175 wind turbine to be installed in Luxembourg, with production levels 40 times higher than those of the first wind turbines built in the country. It is also the first time Soler has partnered with a critical infrastructure operator such as SEBES. This partnership is only just beginning!”
“It is an honour for SEBES to launch a first for Luxembourg: a drinking water infrastructure powered by wind energy, combining resilience and the energy transition. The future of water distribution in Luxembourg requires a move away from fossil fuels. With Wandpark Eschduerf, we are demonstrating that public management can combine environmental responsibility with strategic autonomy,” said André Weidenhaupt, President of SEBES.
The selected turbine, an Enercon E-175, is a latest-generation model with an installed capacity of 6 MW and estimated annual production of 21.5 GWh. On its own, its output exceeds the annual household energy requirements of Esch-sur-Sûre municipality by six times.
Approximately 4,800 households, representing around 19,100 people, can be supplied by the turbine, which is located 1,200 metres from the nearest homes. Furthermore, the Eschdorf turbine is the first E-175 model to be installed in the Benelux region.
Technological developments in the sector have been remarkable. Energy production from a single wind turbine has increased by between 20 and 40 times since the first models were installed in Luxembourg during the 1990s. From an environmental perspective, the Eschdorf wind farm will save approximately 4,021 tonnes of CO₂ annually.
Soler emphasised it remains committed to citizen participation. One year after the wind turbine enters service, and following confirmation of its productivity and profitability, citizens will have the opportunity to invest in the capital of the companies operating the wind farm. This sustainable and participatory approach lies at the heart of Soler’s development model.
Caption: (L-R) Simone Beissel, SEBES Vice-President and delegate of the City of Luxembourg); Pollo Bodem, Mayor of Useldange; Tom Jungen, Mayor of Réiserbann; Lex Delles, Minister of the Economy, SMEs, Energy and Tourism; Mireille Welter, Mayor of Esch-sur-Sûre; André Weidenhaupt, President SEBES and delegate of the Minister of the Environment, Climate and Biodiversity; Paul Zeimet, Managing Director, Soler; Guy Uhres, Head of Renewables, Soler; Georges Kraus, Director, SEBES; Christian Schroeder, Deputy Director, SEBES; Jenny Schank, First Alderman of Esch-sur-Sûre
Credit: Soler
