Berlin's NeXtWind Lands Record €1.4B Wind Financing
NeXtWind currently operates 37 onshore wind farms with a total capacity of 450 MW and has a total repowering capacity of around 1.4 GW. © shutterstock
Berlin-based NeXtWind has closed Germany's largest debt financing deal for an independent wind energy provider, securing €1.4 billion to accelerate its ambitious expansion plans. The company also secured an additional €1.3 billion in accordion facilities that can be activated over the coming years.
According to the company's press release, this groundbreaking syndicated loan opens the German onshore wind market to debt investments from major financial institutions for the first time. The innovative platform financing model bundles existing and future projects rather than financing individual wind farms separately, creating unprecedented efficiencies.
NeXtWind will use the funding to modernize more than half of its 37 wind farms through repowering – replacing older turbines with state-of-the-art technology. The company plans to quadruple capacity at these sites, increasing total generation to over 1 GW by 2028, before expanding to 3 GW overall.
"This financing is a significant milestone for NeXtWind and testament to the confidence in our business model," explains Lars B. Meyer, Co-CEO. "Thanks to this novel platform approach, we can optimize our wind farms more quickly and accelerate our growth."
Founded in 2020, NeXtWind has established itself as a leading player in renewable energy repowering. The company currently operates wind farms with 450 MW capacity and maintains a repowering pipeline of approximately 1.4 GW, supplying green electricity to around one million households annually.
The long-term vision extends beyond wind generation. Meyer outlined plans to transform wind farms into integrated clean energy hubs capable of generating, storing, and distributing renewable energy from multiple sources in a grid-friendly manner.
Deutsche Bank, ING Bank, and LBBW served as underwriters and lead arrangers, with Lazard as exclusive financial advisor. The deal structure includes five components tailored to repowering requirements, featuring term loans for acquisitions and flexible guarantee lines.
This financing breakthrough demonstrates Berlin's growing influence in the renewable energy sector and positions NeXtWind as a key partner in Germany's energy transition.
