Aloys Wobben
Aloys Wobben | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 22, 1952 West Germany |
| Died | July 31, 2021 (aged 69) |
| Occupation(s) | Engineer, entrepreneur |
| Known for | Founder of Enercon |
Aloys Wobben (22 January 1952 – 31 July 2021) was a German engineer, entrepreneur, and billionaire who founded the wind turbine manufacturer Enercon. He was listed among the top 50 wealthiest people in Germany, with an estimated net worth of €4.78 billion as of November 2020. By August 2021, his fortune was assessed by Forbes at US$7.1 billion.
Early life
Wobben was born in West Germany and completed his undergraduate studies in electrical engineering at the University of Oldenburg.
Career
Enercon was established by Wobben in 1984 in Aurich, beginning with a team of three employees focused on designing and producing wind turbines. Under his guidance, the company rose to prominence as a key player in Germany’s wind energy industry. In 1993, he pioneered the introduction of the gearless wind turbine featuring full converter technology, notably demonstrated by the Enercon E-40 model, which significantly contributed to the firm’s international expansion.
In 2012, due to health concerns, Wobben withdrew from active management and on 1 October 2012 transferred his shares to the Aloys-Wobben Foundation, which then became the sole owner of Enercon Group.
By August 2021, Forbes valued his net worth at $7.1 billion.
Personal life
Wobben resided in Aurich, was married, and had one child. He passed away in August 2021 following a prolonged illness.
Recognition
- Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
- Recipient of the 2000 German Environmental Prize awarded by the German Federal Environmental Foundation
- Awarded the 2004 European Solar Prize by Eurosolar for "Special Personal Commitment"
- Conferred an honorary doctorate from the University of Kassel in 2006
- Received honorary citizenship (Indigenat) from Ostfriesische Landschaft in 2006 for his economic contributions to East Frisia
- Honored with the Rudolf Diesel Medal in Gold from the German Institute for Invention (DIE) in 2008
- Awarded the Lower Saxony State Prize in 2009