Successful implementation of the energy transformation requires suitable spaces for the exploitation of wind and solar energy. Whether you own pastures, farmland or wooded areas: by leasing your property to Sabowind for a wind turbine or solar farm, you can secure an additional source of long-term income and make an important contribution to climate protection. In consultation with you, we handle the entire process of implementing the wind or solar farm. There is no cost or risk to you.
“I offered my land to Sabowind to implement compensation measures and ended up improving my rainy day fund as well.”
Tino Erler, organic farmer
Spaces that are suitable for wind farms are those which are located outside of:
- Settlements and minimum distances (of min. 1,000m)
- Protected areas and wetlands
- Raw material mining areas
- Airfields and military installations
- Min. 5km from the next wind farm
Areas that are suitable for solar farms:
- Along the edges of motorways and railways (200m)
- Brownfield conversion areas
- Farmland and grasslands in agriculturally disadvantaged areas
The benefits for you as a land owner
- Additional, reliable lease income for more than 20-30 years
- Less land area used for wind energy; the area around the turbine can still be used for farming
- Areas with low agricultural yields are preferred for photovoltaics
- Grassland underneath the photovoltaic installation can be used for sheep grazing
Your lease contract
- Customised lease contract with an attractive compensation package
- The contract does not include any costs or risks for you
- Sabowind is responsible for the success of the project
- Sabowind coordinates with farmers
- Guaranteed complete demolition of the wind and photovoltaic installations
Why Sabowind?
- The success of your project rests squarely on the shoulders of your partner.
- It is in our interest to put your land to its intended use as quickly as possible
- As an operator of wind and solar farms, Sabowind is also your contact during the operation of the installations.
- Reliable contractual partner in your area – independent, owner-managed family business
- Certification as a partner for fair wind energy
Farming, solar energy and wind energy – a worthwhile relationship
Wind and solar installations require the use of agricultural areas to generate electricity. However, farming and renewable energies are not necessarily mutually exclusive. There are a number of positive effects and economic reasons that should encourage agricultural businesses to make a contribution to the energy transformation.
“I can continue to farm my field during the service life of the windmill. If the installation is demolished, the areas that were removed from productive use can once again be put to full use for farming.”
Andreas Engemann, farmer
Coordinated planning
- Minimal loss of area due to coordinated planning with the farmer
- Adapting the roads to the crop row orientation, meaning the farmer has a say in determining the orientation of the crane pads, the course of the access road and the cable route
- Occasional use of roads for better accessibility of agricultural areas
- The farmer has a say in selecting and implementing compensation measures, such as demolition of structures and unsealing of soils
- Solar farm area becomes grassland or wildflower meadow and can be used for sheep grazing
Annual lease income
- Reliable annual income through min. 20-year leasing of suitable areas for wind and solar energy
- Possible extension through continued operation or repowering
- Compensation for obstacles to farming
- Compensation for damage incurred–
e.g. possible crop damage due to preliminary testing, construction, operation or demolition of wind or photovoltaic installations
Owner operation and participation
- Owner operation of an installation and establishment of an additional support
- Support and provision of areas for a citizens’ power generation installation
- Close collaboration between farmer and operator
- Participation through coordinated and transparent planning
Our services at a glance
Questions & answers
Regional planners and wind power companies work together to determine which areas may be used for wind farms. Regional planners use exclusion criteria to identify wind priority areas where wind turbines may be built. Exclusion criteria for wind turbines are, for example, minimum distance from settlements of 1,000m, protected areas and wetlands, raw material mining areas, airfields and military installations.
Suitable areas for solar farms are, for example, areas alongside motorways and railways, areas formerly used for military purposes, and farmland and grasslands in agriculturally disadvantaged areas.
As the planning phase of renewable energy projects is very time and cost intensive, we as project developer need planning security to be able to plan the necessary areas. The preparation of expert assessments in particular incurs high costs. Sabowind can only make this investment when it is certain that the property owners agree to the project.
There is no risk to you as a property owner. The owner is contractually released from all risk for any damages occurring during the construction or operation phase. Furthermore, Sabowind is obligated as the operator to insure all risks, e.g. by means of operator liability insurance.
Based on two independent and accredited expert wind assessments and a statutorily guaranteed 20-year feed-in compensation, we can calculate the economic viability very accurately right from the start of the project. The sole purpose of the operator company is to operate the wind turbine so that no unexpected costs occur and payment difficulties are practically excluded. Your lease payments are therefore assured.
Even before construction begins, the operator must post a sufficiently high, insolvency-proof demolition bond as a condition of the permit. This covers the complete demolition of the turbine as well as the complete removal of the turbine foundation. The bond is only returned to the operator when the foundation and the wind turbine are completely demolished and the area is restored to its original condition.
Solar farms
Generally, the areas identified for the construction of solar installations have poor soil and are therefore only suitable to a limited extent for farming. The area underneath the solar modules can be used as grassland for purposes such as sheep grazing, thereby offering added ecological value.
Wind farms
When planning wind farms, Sabowind minimises the use of land in order to remove as little area as possible from agricultural use during the service life of the wind turbine. In addition, Sabowind takes account of farmers’ interests with respect to the course of roads and areas. If, for example, crops are lost or yields are reduced due to construction activities or during the service life, Sabowind is obligated to compensate the farmer.
As we generally perform the post-commissioning commercial and technical management of the projects that we plan and build, we will be available as your point of contact throughout the entire service life.