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Positive effects for nature and landscape by wind energy
Wind energy turbines produce green energy and contribute to a positive carbon dioxid balance. What many people do not know: During the planning and permit procedure, comprehensive compensating measures are being developed and implemented. These measures help to protect different indigenous species and to create new biotopes. Furthermore, the measures compensate sealed natural grounds of the turbine foundations and impairments of the landscape caused by turbines visible over a long distance. Additionally, they result often in wonderful local recreation areas and “oases” for humans and animals.
For example an orchard meadow was planted on 7,300 m2 at Seega (Kyffhäuser district) to compensate the construction of two wind turbines at wind farm Artern-Kachstedt. The year before old sheds have been dismantled in order to unseal the area to make the plantings possible. Important soil and water functions have been restored and a biotope for a species-rich fauna has been created and will be protected long-term by extensive landscape preservation. Further plantings of groves have been realized this spring to compensate impairments in connection with the implementation of the wind farm Luko. Hedge plantations in the communities nearby enhance not only the landscape but also contribute to a habitat network in the region.
Our concluded projects also show many interesting and creative compensating measures. Due to the erection of a wind turbine at wind farm Tanna a creek was restored by opening the piped water stream and creating a meandering creek bed. Moreover, an initial plantation of trees and bushes as well as sowing of regional seeding material took place on stream banks. The flowing water is rich in structures and the banks are designed close to nature, hence it provides habitat and refuge for many different species, such as amphibian and bird species.
Intact near-natural waters do not only have a positive influence on the protection of species but also contribute to an effective flood protection. Different compensating measures in the community of Hauteroda, co-financed by Sabowind, focused exactly on that aspect. The restoration of the creek Helderbach included the plantation of edge strips, poplars and willows near the embankment. Also stones increase the rich structure and are more able to restrain flood waves. This effect is intensified by the plantation of groves on agricultural land in the zone of the creek to hold back effluent water above-ground and to restrain flood water. In addition the plantings serve as protection against soil erosion.
Our recently completed ‘Bat Tower’ near Zwickau shows that creativity is sometimes necessary to develop compensating measures. The former air ventilation tower of an old mining facility is around 7 meters tall and protected as a historic monument. The tower has been cleaned from building waste and in due consideration of the monument protection openings to enter the tower as well as bat stones were integrated into the building. Now the tower is being used as bat habitat through the whole year.
For further information please see our new reference list of our compensating measures on our website. Beside the mentioned measures you will find a lot of information about our most interesting compensating measures.