Wind farm in Hemmingen: New hope for green energy and local households!

Wind farm in Hemmingen: New hope for green energy and local households!

A new wind farm could soon shape the landscape north of Hemmingen in the Ludwigsburg district. The project developer Uhl Windkraft from Ellwangen is planning to build four wind turbines that will impress with a hub height of 179 meters and a total output of 27.2 megawatts. Each of these wind turbines is expected to generate 12 to 13 million kilowatt hours annually, which means enough electricity for around 3,400 households, like Stuttgart News reported.

Mayor Thomas Schäfer (CDU) and the local councilors support the project, which is currently only the first of its kind in the region, where so far only a single wind turbine from 2012 is in operation in Ingersheim. The plan was initially designed for 145 hectares, but was reduced to 100 hectares, mostly in the direction of Schwieberdingen. The permit application is expected to be submitted by mid-2025, with the wind turbines possibly being put into operation by mid-2028.

Nature and wind power – a balancing act

As is often the case when it comes to expanding renewable energies, there are challenges here too. In particular, the location of the wind turbines has been criticized because rare migratory birds, including the golden plover, rest in the region. In order to take these ecological concerns into account, nature conservation reports were drawn up. These ensure that the birds' resting behavior is not negatively influenced, which, according to Deutscher Windindustrie, is an important prerequisite for the expansion of wind power.

For wind turbines that are built near garden houses, a minimum distance of 800 meters from residential buildings does not apply, which is even more a topic of conversation. Project manager Gohl points out that the 40 decibel noise from the turbines is comparable to a quiet conversation, which may be acceptable to residents.

Planning and future of wind energy

The expansion of wind energy in Hemmingen is not only a question of local potential, but also crucial for the global energy transition goals. According to the City of Hemmingen, these projects are necessary to ensure national security of supply and achieve local climate neutrality goals. The five existing wind turbines currently occupy all available space, which means that new planning is necessary to create additional space for wind power.

An interesting aspect with regard to wind energy in the region is the new law to increase and accelerate the expansion of wind energy, which has been in force since February 1, 2023. It regulates that land use plans must be adjusted as quickly as possible in order to meet the requirements of the land use contribution target.

In total, there are 20 priority areas for wind power in the Ludwigsburg district, and there are 87 in the entire state. The state is legally obliged to designate 1.8 percent of its area for wind power. These legal foundations and a transparent, comprehensible process strengthen acceptance among the population, which is of enormous importance for the successful implementation of wind farm projects.