Energy - Very different wind turbine density in Rhineland-Palatinate
In the districts Rhineland-Hunsrück and Alzey-Worms in Rhineland-Palatinate, there are the most wind turbines. Moreover, significantly more new installations are planned there, as stated in a response from the Energy Ministry in Mainz to a CDU faction inquiry.
According to the International Renewable Energy Forum Regenerative Energies, the number of installed wind energy installations reached 244 at the leading Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis by the end of February 2024, with a total capacity of approximately 624 Megawatts. This represents over 15% in terms of capacity and around 14% in terms of the number of installations compared to all districts and free cities.
The Rheinhessian district of Alzey-Worms follows with a capacity of around 463 Megawatts from 173 installations. Although there are more installations, 202 in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, the capacity is lower, at approximately 347 Megawatts.
There is a significant difference in planned installations as well.
Significantly fewer installations are found, for instance, in the Rhein-Lahn district, which is only separated from the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis by the Rhine, with just 15 installations and an overall capacity of 11 Megawatts. In the Neuwied district, which extends far into the Westerwald, there are only nine installations - the lowest number of all districts - with approximately 23 Megawatts of capacity.
According to the ministry, information on planned wind energy installations can be found in the Market Data Register of the Federal Network Agency (as of March 26, 2024). Installed installations refer to those in the design or construction phase. The expansion in the Rhein-Lahn district is also limited, with only two installations planned with a capacity of seven Megawatts.
In contrast, 15 installations with around 74 Megawatts of capacity are planned in the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis, 13 installations with approximately 72 Megawatts in the Kreis Alzey-Worms, and the largest expansion could occur in the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, with 32 installations and 163.6 Megawatts of capacity, as well as in the Trier-Saarburg district, with 29 installations and 131.9 Megawatts of capacity.
The land intends to designate land for wind energy more quickly than required by the federal government.
Based on the population of Rhineland-Palatinate (as of December 31, 2022), there are on average 43 wind energy installations per 100,000 inhabitants across the state. The highest value is in the sparsely populated district of Vulkaneifel, with 298, followed by the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis, with 231. Based on the total area of Rhineland-Palatinate - around 19,900 square kilometers - there are 90 wind energy installations per 1,000 square meters. It is expected that the Kreis Alzey-Worms (294) and the Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis (246) will lead in this regard.
It should be noted that wind turbines cannot be built everywhere. The state of Rhineland-Palatinate plans to designate around two percent of its land area for wind energy more quickly than required by the federal government. The March 2023 Landtag law in Mainz stipulates this until the end of 2030, while the federal government requires it to be completed by the end of 2032. A two-step approach is planned, with 1.4% designated by the end of 2027 and 2% by the end of 2030. Currently, approximately 1.2% of the land area of Rhineland-Palatinate has been designated as wind energy areas.
- In addition to Rhineland-Hunsrück and Alzey-Worms, the districts of Bitburg-Prüm and Mainz also belong to Rhineland-Palatinate.
- The CDU faction in Mainz expressed interest in the manufacturing sector related to renewable energy, specifically windmills.
- Cooperating with the Rhine-Hunsrück-Kreis, the commune of Rhombitzmühle in Mainz has installed a small windmill for educational purposes.
- The Lahn district, located in Rhineland-Palatinate, has a low capacity and fewer installations compared to districts like Rhein-Hunsrück-Kreis and Alzey-Worms when it comes to wind energy.
- The Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm, situated in the west of Rhineland-Palatinate, is well-known for its traditional buildings and scenic landscapes, but it's also becoming an attractive region for wind energy with its planned installations.
