Guideline for wind park suitability areas

By the year 2020 the share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources shall be increased to 35%, with the largest share to be achieved by the expansion of wind energy. In recent years the use of wind energy on land contributed significantly to the generation of electricity from renewable energy sources. In future, large offshore wind farms in the North and Baltic Seas shall further contribute to the potential of wind energy utilization. Nevertheless, the further expansion on land will be needed to achieve among others the climate protection objectives. In the short and medium term, this represents the most economic development potential in the field of renewable energies. In addition to the installation of new wind farms also repowering (replacement of old, slightly more powerful with new and more powerful systems) will play a prominent role.

The aim of the project is to develop proposals to eliminate the existing legal planning barriers to the expansion of on-shore wind energy  in Germany at the state and local level. Additionally, sample cases of exemplary planning and role model character  are collected  and recommendations for states and municipalities are pronounced. These and existing guidelines, results of ongoing and completed research projects, handouts and other materials can then be made available in form of a transparent guide, provision on an internet page and additionally through a more extensive use of Web 2.0 tools. The applicability of solutions is ensured by the close interaction with a federal-state initiative on further expansion of wind energy.