Renewable energies - Specifications for wind energy areas in the regions for the first time
Discussion has been ongoing about the slow expansion of wind energy in Thuringia, now there are guidelines for the land distribution in the regional areas. According to federal guidelines, a total of 35,600 hectares or 2.2 percent of the state's area should be reserved for wind turbine construction in Thuringia by 2032, the Infrastructure Ministry in Erfurt announced. The revised state development program, which was adopted by the cabinet, now takes these guidelines into account for the energy transition.
Currently, according to ministry statements - taking into consideration the regional planning proposals for Southwest, North, and Central Thuringia - only 1.1 percent of the state's area is planned for priority wind energy zones. Now there are guidelines for the four Thuringian planning regions according to their landscape conditions.
Planned fair distribution of wind turbines
In the coming decade, 3 percent of the area in Northern Thuringia should be planned for priority wind energy zones, 2.2 percent in Central Thuringia, 2 percent in Southwestern Thuringia, and 1.7 percent in Eastern Thuringia. "Our goal is a structured, fair, and proportionate distribution of priority areas for wind energy, while taking into consideration the diverse landscapes of Thuringia," Infrastructure State Secretary Torsten Weil explained. In the designation of priority areas in the forest, priority should mainly be given to areas that already show damages. Wind turbines in the forest have been a contentious issue in Thuringia for years.
Energy Minister Bernhard Stengele stated that Thuringia is contributing to the German expansion goal with the regionalization of partial target areas and enabling economic energy projects for the industry. In addition, the recently adopted Wind Energy Participation Law passed by the Landtag will also financially benefit the municipalities, according to Stengele.
Minister: Projects from industry and forest owners possible
"We have advocated throughout the entire process for wind energy installations to be built near industrial and business areas. This makes it easier for the economy - from small and medium-sized enterprises to global corporations - to access clean energy." For nature protection, high standards will continue to apply, for example, for protected areas in the forest or the Green Belt along the state border. Wind turbines, in particular, on contaminated sites could contribute to the fact that forest owners can finance the necessary forest management. Furthermore, it is clarified with the state development program that best agricultural lands are not only used for solar field projects.
- The Infrastructure Ministry in Erfurt announced that according to federal guidelines, Thuringia should reserve 35,600 hectares for wind turbine construction by 2032, which represents 2.2% of the state's area and is aimed at promoting renewable energies such as wind energy as part of the energy transition.
- Energy Minister Bernhard Stengele emphasized that Thuringia is actively participating in the German expansion goal by regionalizing partial target areas and enabling economic energy projects for industries and forest owners, contributing financially to the municipalities through the Wind Energy Participation Law.
- The structured, fair, and proportionate distribution of priority areas for wind energy in Thuringia, as proposed by Infrastructure State Secretary Torsten Weil, includes 3% of the area in Northern Thuringia, 2.2% in Central Thuringia, 2% in Southwestern Thuringia, and 1.7% in Eastern Thuringia, taking into account the diverse landscapes of the state.
- The revised state development program, which was adopted by the cabinet, aligns with these guidelines and further supports the government's commitment to the energy transition, with an emphasis on wind energy in Thuringia's regional planning, particularly in Erfurt and the surrounding areas.
