Wehingen solar park: Red deer in danger from new major construction site!

Wehingen solar park: Red deer in danger from new major construction site!

The Mettlach local council made a groundbreaking decision on the planned Wehingen solar park in the Cloef Atrium at a public meeting on July 2, 2025. Mayor Daniel Kiefer noted that despite low public participation, not a single protesting conservationist was present. This could be partly due to the current protests by hunters against the new state hunting law, in which many of them will take part in Mainz.

The solar park, which is planned on an area of ​​​​around 29 hectares on the back of the Pellinger Berg tunnel on Autobahn 8, has met with massive criticism. Opponents of the project fear that it will disrupt an important long-distance hiking trail for red deer. At the council meeting, the issue of the different assessments of the project was once again controversially discussed. At this point, well-known animal protection organizations, such as the German Wildlife Foundation and the German Hunting Association (DJV), are raising their voices against the project.

Ecological concerns and impacts on wildlife corridors

A central concern of the critics is the threat to the last uninterrupted connection for wild animals, especially red deer, between the Saarland high forest and the French Massif de la Canner. Current reports show that the solar farm would block around 60 to 70 percent of the usable width of the important wildlife passage with high fences (up to 3.5 meters). This passage, which includes the Pellinger Berg motorway tunnel, plays a crucial role in the unhindered migration of various animal species.

The concerns are not unfounded, as disrupting this connection increases the risk of inbreeding and disease in red deer. Experts argue that existing alternatives to wildlife migration are inadequate. In addition, there is criticism that the planning is not in line with the necessary species protection. The German Wildlife Foundation emphasizes that wildlife-friendly design approaches, such as permeable fences, are necessary to minimize negative effects.

The role of solar parks and biodiversity

Despite the push for renewable energy within the region, there is a growing awareness of the impact of solar farms on biodiversity. According to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, the development of biodiversity in the solar park depends heavily on the site conditions and the type of previous use. A sensible design that is geared towards target biotopes could, for example, promote the ecosystem by creating islands of trees or flower strips.

A well-thought-out concept in this regard, which includes regular monitoring of measures, could help to promote both renewable energies and the protection of biodiversity. However, the question remains whether the Wehingen solar park is actually a sustainable project or whether the ecological concerns outweigh them.

The debate about the Wehingen solar park shows once again how important it is to reconcile nature conservation and renewable energies. We can only hope that everyone involved listens particularly carefully to the voices of conservationists and can shape the future together.

The developments surrounding the solar park will continue to be closely monitored and the discussion about nature conservation and renewable energies remains a highly topical topic in the region.