Approval process for wind farms: Black Forest district sounds the alarm!

Approval process for wind farms: Black Forest district sounds the alarm!

On Monday, June 30th, simplifications in the approval process for wind energy areas in Germany were abolished, which led to a veritable rush of approval applications. This particularly affects the Schwarzwald-Baar-Kreis district office, where seven applications for new wind farms have been received in the last few days. The reason for the excitement is the expiry of the regulations in paragraph 6 of the Wind Energy Requirement Area Act (Wind-BG), which waived environmental impact assessments (EIA) and species protection assessments (saP) under certain conditions. Before July 1, 2023, this was only possible if the construction area had previously undergone an environmental assessment and was not in a Natura 2000 area, nature reserve or national park, reports South Courier.

The applications concern the following wind farm projects:

• Windpark Steinwald, St. Georgen-Peterzell: 3 Anlagen (Vattenfall Europe Windkraft GmbH)
• Windpark Schlossberg, St. Georgen-Brigach/Oberkirnach: 2 Anlagen (Eno Energy GmbH)
• Windpark Blumberg I: 5 Anlagen (Green City Energy Windpark Blumberg GmbH & Co. KG)
• Windpark Blumberg II: 2 Anlagen (Green City Energy Windpark Blumberg GmbH & Co. KG)
• Windpark Linach, Vöhrenbach: 3 Anlagen (Siventis Windenergie GmbH & Co. KG)
• Windpark Rappeneck, Vöhrenbach: 5 Anlagen (Wira Windpark Rappeneck GbR)
• Windpark Bräunlingen, Waldhausen/Döggingen: 3 Anlagen (Energiequelle GmbH)

Approval process for wind turbines

An important aspect of the new applications is that wind turbines (WEA) usually require a permit, especially if they are over 50 meters high. This approval is granted in accordance with the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG). In Baden-Württemberg, the lower administrative authorities, i.e. district offices and independent cities, decide on permits, such as the Baden-Württemberg State Environmental Agency reported. If there are several wind turbines at one location, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) may also be necessary to ensure that no harmful environmental impacts or hazards arise.

The responsibility for ensuring that all public law regulations are adhered to lies with the building owner. Among other things, pollution control, nature conservation law as well as building regulations and building planning law come into play. In addition, the nature conservation authority must take a position and order suitable mitigation measures in order to comply with the legal requirements. Another point is the examination of aviation law as well as landscape and monument protection, as on the portal Wind & Solar specialist agency is to be read.

Future of wind energy

Although the removal of the facilitation of the approval process brings with it some challenges, there are also positive aspects. Builders have a legal right to approval if all requirements are met. In the future, approvals for wind farms with 3 to 19 wind turbines will require a preliminary assessment in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Act (UVPG) and the effects on the environment will be analyzed in detail.

The sudden increase in applications for wind power shows that the topic of alternative energies is very popular in the region and that the urge to invest in renewable energies is clearly felt by both companies and the population. It now remains to be seen how these developments will affect the regional energy market.