Founded in 1985 in Denmark, Nordex Group entered the North American market in 2000 with wind turbines designed to help meet energy needs. Over the years, the company has been at the forefront of innovation in its industry, leading the mass production of 1 MW turbines starting in 1995, becoming the first to produce 2.5 MW turbines in 2000, and making the first 4+ MW turbine in 2017. With a production facility and training center in West Branch, Iowa, to support its headquarters in Chicago, Illinois, the company has grown to a 5-MW product portfolio in the U.S.
What is now Nordex’s West Branch location began as a manufacturing plant for Acciona’s wind turbine manufacturing subsidiary, Acciona Windpower. The company decided to develop its first wind turbine manufacturing plant in the U.S. in 2007, after it received exclusive rights to develop 1300 MW of wind projects in Iowa, Illinois, and Wisconsin. It invested $23 million to repurpose an existing 100,000-square-foot facility in West Branch, which had been built for the hydraulics company Sauer-Danfoss in 1997, but the company vacated the space by 2003. “Knowing that ground-up construction of a new facility couldn’t be completed in time to meet their aggressive operations goal, Acciona selected to modify this facility because it had existing office space and space for parts storage,” commented Jim Kiesey, a senior project manager at developer Ryan Companies, about Acciona’s desired timeline to reach operational status within seven months. The company also added 101,200 square feet of space to house the assembly process, ultimately creating more than 100 local jobs.
However, the tides began to turn within a few years. Despite increasing hiring and raising its production goal in 2008, the following year, Acciona Windpower announced it would lay off 58 people, including assembly workers and production support employees, representing about a one-third cut of the workforce at the Iowa wind turbine plant. The company decided to “scale the workforce to the current demand for wind turbines, which is uncharacteristically low due primarily to instability in the financing markets,” with many customers postponing their orders until the following year. In April 2013, Acciona Windpower announced that it was eliminating 40 more jobs, pointing to the fact that “U.S. wind development declined sharply over the past year for reasons beyond our control.” The company ultimately paused operations at the site, and the plant sat idle for 12 years.
Photo Courtesy Nordex North America
In 2016, Acciona sold Acciona Windpower to Nordex. Through the merger, Nordex, which already had a strong presence in Europe, gained a foothold in North and South America, with new manufacturing facilities in the U.S. and Brazil, including the West Branch, Iowa, facility. However, it was not until 2023 that the company began considering bringing it back online, following the introduction of the Inflation Reduction Act and projections of increased demand for solar and wind power. “It’s a very good … plant that, with minimum capital expenditure, can be brought to life again. The question for us is not if, it’s going to be when,” CEO Jose Luis Blanco said to Reuters.
In 2024, to expand in North America, Nordex officially announced it would restart production at the West Branch facility, where it would manufacture nacelles, hubs, and drivetrains for the American and Canadian markets. Then, last July, Nordex celebrated the grand reopening of the West Branch facility, with more than 100 employees joining the 600 already working in the region.
The development represents a big step forward for both Iowan and American energy leadership. COO Ibrahim Oezarslan said, “I think through all these years, we have been showing the commitment, the loyalty, the trust in the American market, and this is also the proof here today, with the reopening of the factory. North American CEO Manav Sharma added, “Of all the places, we have never felt more welcome than we have here in Iowa,” where wind power accounts for approximately 60% of energy generation. Jackie Shay, vice president of people and culture for North America, said, “We’ve strategically maintained our facility here in anticipation of this growth, and it makes perfect sense to leverage the skilled workforce and strong community partnerships we’ve established.”
Photo Courtesy Nordex North America
That talent will be needed to operate one of the most advanced nacelle assembly facilities in the U.S. Austin Korns, then-senior director of economic development for Greater Iowa City, Inc., noted that the state was already poised to meet this demand: “Nordex’s recommitment and growth of manufacturing in West Branch is a testament to the advanced manufacturing capabilities of the entire region. This is further proof we have the talented workforce and regional connectivity required for this type of high-level production.”
Local officials noted the impact that the project would have in Iowa. West Branch Mayor Roger Laughlin described the economic and workforce benefits: “This growth will create high-quality jobs and increase economic opportunities for our community. The positive impact will extend beyond Nordex’s, indirectly bolstering other economic investments that will collectively improve the quality of life in our community.” Nordex will supply its products across the country. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds reacted, “And with that will come opportunities, not just for the workers on the floor, but for welders, technicians, truck drivers, suppliers, and small businesses across the region, and to the men and women who will work in this facility.”
The company also aims to contribute significantly to the American energy landscape. North American COO John McComas described the energy capacity of its products: “These turbines create a very significant source of energy per unit. One unit is enough to supply electricity to around 5,000 homes.” In the words of Oezarslan: “America needs reliable, affordable, and homegrown electricity greater than ever before, and we believe that we, as Nordex, are in a position to help and fulfill that need.” Sharma elaborated, “We are proudly here to be working in Iowa and then contributing to this era of American energy dominance. We are bringing manufacturing jobs from overseas.”
Photo Courtesy Nordex North America
The company says it has enough contracts to keep it operational for many years to come. Over the summer of 2024, for example, a wind farm in California placed an order for 25 N149/5.X turbines to be installed the following summer. In December 2024, customers in Nova Scotia ordered 36 N163/6.X turbines for delivery this spring, pushing North American sales volume past 1 GW for the year and representing a 350% year-over-year increase. In December 2025, Alliant Energy awarded Nordex contracts for up to 190 of its N133 and N163 turbines for projects in Iowa and the rest of the Midwest. Nordex will also manufacture these turbines in West Branch, after which they are set to be installed in 2028 and 2029, ultimately accounting for 1,060 MW of capacity. Marking the biggest volume awarded in Nordex’s 25 years of operations in the U.S., Blanco reflected, “This affirms our strategic decision to restart production in Iowa and underscores our commitment to the U.S. market, while driving regional economic development and also supporting our progress towards our mid-term target.”
Each of these turbines is part of the company’s Delta4000 series. The series offers a wide variety of towers, with heights reaching up to 179 meters and motor diameters ranging from 133 to 175 meters. Nordex designed them to easily adapt to local conditions, such as wind conditions or grid operator requirements. “This also means it’s possible to optimise the overall yield of a wind farm by means of the different maximum output of individual turbines, thus always exploiting the full potential of each turbine position within each single wind farm,” the company explained. Higher yields mean lower energy costs. Plus, the company offers cold-climate solutions that keep turbines running in temperatures as low as -22°F, while anti-icing capabilities can reduce output losses by 80%, ensuring reliable energy year-round.
Photo Courtesy Nordex Group
Additionally, West Branch is home to the 27,000 square-foot Nordex North American Training Centre. Here, the company says, “Learning is hands-on: a fully refurbished Delta4000 from the ‘Aurora’ wind farm, a Delta4000 simulator, and a 45-foot climb tower put theory into practice.” Professionals provide training both in person in classrooms and online through a webinar studio. Courses covering wind energy basics and on-site maintenance tactics are available to both Nordex team members and others looking to develop their skills. Last year, the Global Wind Organization (GWO) certified the center for its on-site “Working at Heights” refresher course.
Photo Courtesy Nordex Group
