6 March 2025
Interview with Dr. Felix Grolman, CEO of VSB Group
© Ben Gierig / Gierig media
Can you briefly introduce your company to our readers?
The VSB Group is a leading European developer and operator of renewable energy projects, specialising in wind energy and photovoltaics. We are active in six European countries with a strong project pipeline of over 18 GW. Our goal is to have brought a total of up to 5 GW of projects to a ready-to-build status by the end of 2027. This is very ambitious, but still possible! This is because we have the necessary expertise together with highly qualified and committed employees who are passionate about renewable energy.
Since our foundation in 1996, we have built more than 750 wind and solar energy facilities. VSB also offers service solutions for a portfolio exceeding 3 GW and is active in the e-mobility sector for heavy-duty transportation. With over 500 employees across the group and affiliated companies, we are committed to driving renewable energy forward.
A key milestone for us will be the acquisition by TotalEnergies in spring 2025, which will strengthen us financially and create great synergies. Together, we aim to accelerate the energy transition by combining clean energy expansion with global reach.
Which developments in the wind energy sector excite you the most?
The wind energy sector is advancing at an impressive pace. Key developments we find particularly exciting include:
- Increased efficiency through larger turbines: Modern onshore wind turbines now reach heights of over 230 metres and outputs greater than 6 MW, significantly boosting energy yield per unit. An impressive development!
- Hybrid parks: Combining wind energy, solar power, and battery storage at shared locations is a game-changer for reliable, continuous, and efficient clean energy generation.
- Digitalisation and artificial intelligence: Smart control systems, AI-driven maintenance, and big data analytics are optimising wind farm performance while lowering operational costs.
- Repowering: Replacing outdated wind and solar installations with advanced, more efficient technology increases energy output while saving space, driving efficiency and thus accelerating the integration of clean energy.
These innovations are driving the wind energy sector into a new era of efficiency and competitiveness, and our projects align with these exciting advancements.
What changes would you like to see in the wind energy sector?
Despite these positive developments, challenges remain that must be addressed to accelerate wind energy deployment:
- Faster permitting processes: Lengthy planning and approval periods delay the realisation of wind farms in many countries. Streamlined and standardised regulations could significantly speed up project development.
- Improved grid integration: Grid expansion must keep pace with the growth of renewable energy. Flexible grids and smart storage solutions are crucial for the rapid expansion of renewable energies.
- Stable policy frameworks: Long-term investment security is crucial. Volatile subsidy mechanisms and sudden changes in feed-in tariffs often disrupt necessary growth.
What role does the VSB Group play in the future development of wind energy?
Our mission is to actively shape the transition to sustainable energy. We see ourselves as drivers of innovation, particularly in hybrid parks, battery storage, and e-mobility.
- Hybrid parks and battery storage: We will develop more projects that intelligently combine multiple renewable energy sources on a shared site. Battery storage systems are also becoming increasingly important for storing surplus energy for times of increased demand. We currently have over 700 MW of battery storage projects in the pipeline, and our goal is to increase this number to over 5 GW within the next five years.
- International expansion: VSB’s vision encompasses a profound transformation of the European energy landscape, with the goal of driving the renewable energy sector to unprecedented success. This is why we aim to enter new markets with high potential for wind and solar energy, supported by favourable political frameworks.
- Decarbonisation of industry and mobility: Partnering with industrial companies and providers of EV charging infrastructure, we want to lead the way in transforming the energy sector sustainably.
How has WindEurope membership benefited your company?
WindEurope provides us with a valuable platform for knowledge exchange, political advocacy, and networking with key industry players. We particularly benefit from:
- Market and technology studies that help us anticipate future developments.
- Regular events and conferences where we connect with other leading companies and explore potential collaborations.
- EU-level advocacy efforts to create better frameworks for wind energy expansion.
In a time when renewables play an important role in energy supply, it is essential to build strong networks and have a united voice in our industry.
Where do you see your company in ten years?
By 2035, we aim to be the best provider of integrated renewable energy solutions in Europe. Key objectives include:
- Expanding our owned portfolio (IPP): Currently at 475 MW, we plan to triple this to 1,433 MW by the end of 2028 and continue growing from there.
- Leadership in hybrid parks, storage and repowering: Combining multiple renewable sources with battery storage will be a core part of our business model. We are currently finalising the Elster repowering project (Saxony-Anhalt) in Germany, one of the largest and most important repowering projects of its kind in Europe. Our declared aim is to develop further projects of this dimension.
- Advancing Power-to-X technologies: This exciting future field enables the coupling of the industrial, heating, and mobility sectors with the electricity sector. This is why wind projects with electrolysers, e.g. for hydrogen production and coupling with heating networks for local heat supply, are becoming increasingly important for VSB.
- Pioneering digitalisation: Smart operations, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven control systems will enhance the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of our wind and PV farms. Of course, our customers also greatly benefit from these advantages.
- Scaling up e-mobility solutions: We will invest more capital in charging infrastructure for electric vehicles to ensure that green electricity is increasingly used in the transport sector.
Our overarching goal is to drive the energy transition while ensuring sustainable business growth. We are well-positioned to lead this transformation toward a clean, secure, and affordable energy future.
Find out more about VSB Group
