We are acutely aware of the challenges associated with the energy transformation, as they have to be dealt with by municipalities and citizens. To gain the greatest possible acceptance at a local level, we work together with you from the outset to ensure transparent planning in all phases of your wind or solar project.
“Sabowind, in close collaboration with the city of Heldrungen and its citizens, found a way to actively implement the energy transformation while keeping value creation local.”
Norbert Enke, Mayor of Heldrungen
Joint development of municipal energy and participation concepts
As a municipality, your collaboration with Sabowind gives you the opportunity to help design the projects, for example by carrying out land-use planning as the planning authority or moderating political processes related to wind and solar farm planning. As an experienced partner, we support you in your planning processes such as preparing preliminary as well as legally binding, final land-use plans.
Financial participation
- Guaranteed municipal revenue in accordance with §36k German Renewable Energy Act (EEG) 2021: up to 0.2 euro cent/KWh over the entire service life
- Long-term lease income and commercial tax revenue
- Possibility of citizens’ power generation installations
- Creation of a green energy tariff
- Support of charitable purposes
Joint planning and implementation
- Customised energy and participation concepts
- Transparent planning processes
- Coordinated land-use planning
- Public participation in the planning process
- Compensation measures such as renaturation of streams to protect against flooding
- Involvement of local businesses
Own power generation
- Operation of a wind or solar installation
- Resultant increase in economic and infrastructural independence
- Sale of electricity through local or regional municipal works
- Individual contribution to the energy transformation and decentralised power generation
News
Commissioning of two PV parks
Sabowind will start the realisation of two further wind energy projects in 2024
Sabowind implements three PV parks with 77 MW in Saxony in 2024
Start of construction of the PV plant in Kleinschirma
Exciting transport in the low mountain range
Wind energy: Over 20 large component replacements across Germany
Sabowind leads 130 MW renewable energy projects to approval
4 Wind farms with a total capacity of 108 MW have been successfully connected to the grid by Sabowind
Four wind farms in Poland almost completely erected
Completion of repowering at the Gersdorf / Bernsdorf wind farm and financial participation
Sabowind erects its most powerful wind turbine by participating all surrounding communities
Upwind for Saxony - Energy State Saxony. Renewing together
Symbolic groundbreaking ceremony for Markowice wind farm with 13 wind turbines
Together and fair we accomplish more.
Breaking ground for the expansion of the Artern-Kachstedt wind farm in northern Thuringia.
Why should Sabowind be your first choice
Early participation from all groups with an interest in the planned energy installation
As a municipal works and local energy provider, you work together on an equal footing with regional wind and solar installation operator Sabowind. You benefit from individualised advice and short decision paths.
Financial participation opportunities for citizens, municipalities and local businesses
Close and transparent collaboration with all parties involved in the project
These principles are proven in Thuringia through the “Partner for fair wind energy” certification
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.
Noise
The German Technical Instruction on Noise Protection (TA Lärm) stipulates how to deal with harmful environmental effects caused by noise. In mixed-use residential areas, the noise emission value of 45 dB(A) must not be exceeded at night. If the limit cannot be observed, the turbines must be operated at reduced output to reduce the (acustic) noise. The diagram below shows that a wind turbine under full load at a distance of 200 metres is quieter than a calm conversation.
Much like gusty winds, ocean surf, technical installations or moving automobiles, wind turbines too will cause (acustic) noise at very low frequencies, known as infrasound. These frequencies are inaudible to humans. According to the latest scientific evidence, the infrasound generated by wind turbines does not produce any harmful effects in humans.
Shadows
The spinning rotor of the wind turbine can cast shadows. The legislature limits this visual disturbance by means of maximum permissible shadow durations on permanently habitable areas, such as homes or patios. Modern wind turbines are designed with the technology to record the shadow of the entire wind farm and automatically shut down if the limit is exceeded.
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.
If the construction site is on communal property, the community first receives a contractually agreed usage fee. In addition, 70 per cent of the commercial tax revenues flow to the local municipality. The remaining 30 per cent is passed to the registered seat of the operator company. Aside from the financial benefits, the municipality benefits from compensation measures, improves its environmental balance sheet thanks to the construction of renewable energy installations and contributes to the energy transformation.
There are also plans for a participation law, which would allow the community to share in the yield of the wind turbine in future. Sabowind has already been doing this on a voluntary basis
The red night-time illumination of the turbines is mandatory, in order to alert night-time air traffic to the presence of the wind turbines as an obstacle. However, the continuous flashing of the turbines at night has negatively impacted the acceptance of wind turbines, so the legislature has passed legislation that requires need-based night-time identification of all windmills taller than 100 m by the end of 2022. This means that the turbines will only flash at night if, for example, an aeroplane is approaching.