Approval for a new wind turbine in Großenlüder granted!

On January 2, 2025, it was announced that the Kassel regional council has given a permit for the construction of a wind turbine (WEA) in the Grossenlüder wind farm. The application for approval was submitted in December 2022. The location of the WEA is located in the Eichenau district in the Fulda district.

The approved wind energy system is of the Nordex N163 type and has the following technical specifications: a hub height of 164 meters, a rotor diameter of 163 meters, a total height of 245.5 meters and a nominal output of 6.8 megawatts (MW). The official publication of the approval notice will be published on January 13th in the State Gazette and on the website of the Kassel regional council.

comprehensive approval procedure

Before the approval, an extensive test procedure for the application documents and the statements received took place. The approval notice also includes various side provisions. According to the Federal Immission Protection Act (BImSchG), approval is necessary for the construction and operation of wind turbines over 50 meters. The responsible immission protection department 33.1 (Kassel) and 33.2 (Bad Hersfeld) are responsible for approval.

The immission protection approval procedure has a concentration effect according to § 13 BImSchG and takes into account various aspects such as immission protection, nature and species protection law as well as building code and construction planning law. When approving wind turbines, further legal issues, such as air traffic law, landscape protection and monument protection laws, can be relevant.

The BImSchG provides for both a simplified and a formal approval process. While public participation is required in the formal procedure in accordance with Section 10 BImSchG, this procedure is no longer necessary in the simplified procedure according to § 19 BImSchG. The choice of the procedure depends on the number of systems to be approved and the need for an environmental impact assessment (RRP).

For projects in wind energy areas, in which a strategic environmental examination (SUP) has already been carried out, as well as outside of Natura 2000 areas, nature reserves or national parks will be facilitated in the approval process until June 30, 2025. In these cases there is no obligation to carry out a RRP; Only a modified species protection law examination is required.

In addition, the nature conservation authority can order suitable and proportionate reduction measures in order to meet the requirements of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. If such reduction measures cannot be implemented, the operators are obliged to make financial compensation in a species aid program.