What SL NaturEnergie does

SL NaturEnergie Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung is a German private wind energy operator headquartered in Gladbeck, North Rhine-Westphalia, founded by Klaus Schulze Langenhorst in 1996/2000 and wholly owned by him as sole shareholder. The company operates approximately 180 wind turbines across 36 locations in NRW, delivering over 500 MW of installed capacity and producing roughly 1.2 TWh of green electricity annually — enough to supply over 400,000 households and avoid 835,000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The technology stack consists predominantly of Enercon turbines (E-40 through E-175 models) plus Siemens Gamesa SG 6.6-170 units installed during recent repowering projects, with hub heights reaching 166m. The portfolio is supplemented by solar installations and supported by a public-facing CO2 calculator built on the German Federal Environment Agency's 2021 emissions methodology.

The company monetizes its generation through three primary channels: (1) EEG direct marketing of wind power to the public grid, (2) bilateral industrial direct supply (Direktbelieferung) contracts of up to 25 years delivering wind power to industrial enterprises via dedicated cable connections — pioneered with thyssenkrupp Hohenlimburg in June 2024 and extended to Schöneweiss & Co. (May 2025) and OHRA Regalanlagen (August 2025), and (3) citizen participation (Bürgerbeteiligung) and Kommanditist investor schemes for project financing. Distribution is complemented by municipal revenue sharing (e.g., Stadtwerke Werl co-investment in Windpark Werl) and a landowner lease network (Flächeneigentümer). Marketing relies on community events, wind festivals, earned media, and policy advocacy through the Industrie-Windstrom-Pakt NRW co-founded with LEE NRW.

SL NaturEnergie's most distinctive strategic differentiator is its pioneering role in industrial direct supply — the first operator in Germany to deliver wind power to industrial customers bypassing the public grid. This is reinforced by the SL NaturEnergie Stiftung, which distributed approximately €425,000 to around 200 community organizations in 2025, and by a deeply embedded community engagement model that has produced a 25-year track record of operating in NRW. The company employs approximately 70 people across management, engineering, operations, finance, communications, legal, and administration, with Milan Nitzschke having served as second managing director from 2019 until his unexpected passing in May 2026.

Name

SL NaturEnergie

Legal name

SL NaturEnergie Gesellschaft mit beschränkter Haftung

Website

https://sl-naturenergie.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2000

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SL NaturEnergie is a German private wind energy operator in North Rhine-Westphalia running ~180 turbines across 36 sites (500+ MW, 1.2 TWh/year), serving industrial customers via direct supply contracts, the public grid via EEG, and citizen investor networks, while pioneering Germany's first industrial wind power direct supply model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wind Energy Generation and Direct Supply

NAICS

Wind Electric Power Generation (221115)

SIC

Electric Services (4911)

akta.pro primary industry

Wind Farm Ownership & Operations (IPP/Utility-Owned Asset Operations) (EUACAFAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Wind Farm Development & Permitting (Greenfield/Brownfield) (EUACAFAE), Wind Farm EPC & Balance of Plant Construction (Civil, Electrical, Substations) (EUAMACAF)

Keywords

• Wind energy generation
• Renewable energy projects
• Industrial direct supply
• Wind farm operations
• Citizen participation

Headquarters

HQ city

Cologne

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Wind Energy Generation and Sale: SL NaturEnergie generates electricity through its portfolio of ~180 wind turbines at 36 locations in NRW and sells the power via direct marketing (Direktvermarktung) through the Germany's EEG (Renewable Energy Sources Act) framework, via direct supply agreements to industrial customers (Direktbelieferung), and to municipal utilities.
2. Industrial Direct Power Supply (B2B): Long-term bilateral power supply contracts (25-year terms) with industrial enterprises, delivering wind power via dedicated cable connections directly from nearby wind parks to industrial facilities. Examples include thyssenkrupp Hohenlimburg (Hagen), OHRA Regalanlagen (Kerpen), and Schöneweiss & Co. This creates stable, long-term revenue streams with industrial customers.
3. Citizen Participation / Community Investment: Local citizens invest directly in wind farm projects through citizen participation models (Bürgerbeteiligung), providing capital contributions and receiving returns. The company also operates a Kommanditist investor network, evidenced by hundreds of individual investor login portals for specific wind parks.
4. SL NaturEnergie Stiftung Donations: A portion of wind farm revenues is allocated to the SL NaturEnergie Stiftung, which distributes funds to local community projects. While this is a cost center rather than revenue, it strengthens community relations and supports project permitting and acceptance.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

SL NaturEnergie develops, builds, finances, and operates wind energy parks (and select solar installations) across North Rhine-Westphalia, operating approximately 180 turbines at 36 locations with over 500 MW installed capacity and ~1.2 TWh of annual green electricity production. The company sells power through three channels: long-term direct supply contracts (Direktbelieferung) to industrial enterprises via dedicated cables, EEG-regulated direct marketing to the public grid, and supply to municipal utilities, supported by a citizen participation financing model and the SL NaturEnergie Stiftung foundation.

Product overview

SL NaturEnergie is a German renewable energy company specializing in wind farm development, construction, and operation across North Rhine-Westphalia. The company operates approximately 180 wind turbines at 36 locations with over 500 MW installed capacity, producing around 1.2 TWh of green electricity annually—enough to supply over 400,000 households and save 835,000 tonnes of CO2. The core offering consists of Windparks (wind farms) and Solaranlagen (solar installations), supplemented by a CO2 Calculator tool for emissions analysis. The company also offers Citizen Participation programs enabling local communities to invest in wind projects, and through its SL NaturEnergie Foundation, supports local charitable initiatives. A key differentiator is the Industrial Direct Supply service, which provides large industrial customers with direct renewable energy connections from wind parks. Founded in 1996 and celebrating 25 years in 2025, the company is headquartered in Gladbeck with a focus on regional value creation in NRW.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SL NaturEnergie Stiftung: A charitable foundation established by SL NaturEnergie that supports non-profit organizations, clubs, and initiatives at wind park locations. Distributed approximately 425,000 EUR to around 200 organizations in 2025.

Products and services

• Windparks (Wind Farms) Development, construction, and operation of wind energy parks across North Rhine-Westphalia with approximately 180 wind turbines at 36 locations, over 500 MW installed capacity, and ~1.2 TWh annual green electricity production.
• Solar Energy Systems (Solaranlagen)

Quantifiable outcome

• Annual production of ~1.2 TWh of green electricity, enough to supply over 400,000 households
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Landesverband Erneuerbare Energien NRW (LEE NRW)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 June 2024SL NaturEnergie co-founded the 'Industrie-Windstrom-Pakt NRW' (Industry Wind Power Pact NRW) with LEE NRW. The initiative aims to connect wind power generators, industrial companies, municipalities, and political decision-makers in NRW to develop solutions for secure, affordable, and climate-friendly energy supply for industry. The pact's core principles include direct supply to industrial companies, long-term price stability through bilateral contracts, grid relief via regional transmission solutions, and promoting investment in new wind projects through guaranteed off-take.
• OHRA Regalanlagen GmbH (Hölscher Holding)majorOthersLong-term 25-year direct power supply contract signed August 2025, supplying wind power from a nearby wind park (Berrenrather Börde, four E-82 turbines) to OHRA's manufacturing facility in Kerpen via a 2.5 km dedicated cable. The contract was signed in the presence of NRW Economics Minister Mona Neubaur and District Administrator Frank Rock. OHRA plans further electrification and eventual exit from gas energy, with electricity demand expected to grow significantly.
• Thyssenkrupp HohenlimburgmajorOthersGermany's first industrial direct power supply contract from wind energy (signed June 2024). Wind park in Hagen-Hohenlimburg supplies green electricity directly to thyssenkrupp's steel rolling mill via a dedicated cable connection. This pioneering contract was cited by NRW Economics Minister Mona Neubaur as a model for industrial energy transition in Germany.
• Schöneweiss & Co. GmbHmajorOthersSecond industrial direct supply contract, supplying wind power to the production facility in Hagen from May 2025. CEO Dr. Frank Werner described the company as having 'entered new territory' with the arrangement and expressed satisfaction with its operation.
• Reisch Sprengtechnik GmbHminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerSpecialist demolition contractor responsible for the controlled demolition of an old Enercon E-66 wind turbine in Olpe in April 2026, using precision blasting techniques. The operation was challenging due to an active new E-175 turbine construction site only 50 meters away.
• Enercon GmbHcoreTechnology or IntegrationPrimary turbine supplier and installation partner. SL NaturEnergie's wind park portfolio predominantly uses Enercon turbines (E-40 through E-175 models). Enercon's 'Blade Hornet' crew handled the transportation and installation of three 90-meter rotor blades for the first E-160 turbine in the Windpark Balve project. The company also performs turbine dismantling (e.g., the E-66 demolition in Olpe).
• Siemens Gamesa Renewable EnergycoreTechnology or IntegrationTurbine supplier for the Windpark Werl repowering project, providing two SG 6.6-170 turbines (hub height 165m), which replaced five older turbines and more than doubled energy production.
• Hy.Region.Rhein.Ruhr e.V.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSL NaturEnergie hosted a Hy.Visit event at its Gladbeck headquarters, welcoming representatives from the hydrogen network Hy.Region.Rhein.Ruhr e.V. for presentations on hydrogen, wind energy, and direct supply, followed by a site tour. The network focuses on green hydrogen production and its integration with renewable energy.
• Wörmann GmbH & Co. KGminorOthersTraffic management contractor responsible for managing the logistics and road safety measures during the transport of 90-meter Enercon rotor blades through the city of Hemer to the Windpark Balve construction site.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Encavis AG: Hamburg-based German wind and solar IPP operating a portfolio of operating renewable assets across Europe. Comparable as a German-headquartered wind operator with a similar regulated/merchant revenue mix and PPA-driven sales model.
• Enertrag AG: German wind/solar/hydrogen developer-operator known for its Bürgerenergie community participation model — structurally very similar to SL NaturEnergie's Bürgebeteiligung and Stiftung approach in NRW/Brandenburg.
• ABO Wind AG: Wiesbaden-based German wind and solar project developer with similar asset-light-to-asset-heavy business model. Comparable in operational footprint, project pipeline development, and reliance on German permitting frameworks.
• PNE AG: Cuxhaven-based German wind project developer and operator with international footprint. Comparable as a publicly listed German wind IPP focusing on project development, repowering, and operation of wind farms.
• juwi AG: Wörrstadt-based German renewable energy project developer covering wind, solar, and hybrid projects. Comparable as a mid-sized German wind developer with similar permitting, repowering, and community-engagement capabilities.
• Energiekontor AG: Bremen-based German wind and solar project developer/operator with similar IPP-style ownership of operating assets. Closely comparable in scale and German-market focus, with overlapping use of project finance and citizen participation structures.
• wpd AG: Bremen-based German wind and solar project developer/operator. Comparable in onshore wind development scale, German permitting expertise, and IPP-style asset ownership.

Broad incumbents

• Statkraft Markets GmbH: German arm of Norway's Statkraft, one of Europe's largest renewable energy generators. Comparable as a large-scale wind IPP operating in Germany with similar EEG direct-marketing exposure and growing industrial PPA activity.
• EWE AG: Oldenburg-based regional utility with significant renewable generation (wind, solar) across northwestern Germany, including NRW. Comparable as a regional energy player overlapping SL's wind ownership and municipal utility (Stadtwerke) partnerships.
• BayWa r.e. AG: Munich-based global renewable energy developer/operator (subsidiary of BayWa AG). Comparable as a much larger German-headquartered wind/solar player, but with broader geographic and technology scope than SL's NRW-only wind focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/sl_naturenergie
• Facebookfacebook.com/sl.naturenergie
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/sl-naturenergie

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about SL NaturEnergie