Lübs-Ferdinandshof wind project

The Lübs-Ferdinandshof wind project is located in the municipality of Lübs (district of Vorpommern-Greifswald) south of the village of Altwigshagen and north of Ferdinandshof. The project area is bordered by the B109 federal highway to the east, the so-called Milchstraße to the west and crossed by the Berlin-Stralsund railroad line.

The project area is suitable for the erection of wind turbines according to the standard state criteria of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and is therefore designated as a suitable area in the draft for the partial update of the Vorpommern regional plan with the area number 34/2015. The area is also very suitable for the planned project for several other reasons. These include

Area no. 34/2015 has a total size of approx. 266 ha, whereby only a few ha are to be used for development. The construction and operation of 12 wind turbines is currently planned here as part of the project applied for.

An application for approval in accordance with Section 4 BImSchG was submitted for the project in May 2016. This has since been revised and updated in light of the update of the regional plan.

As part of the approval process, all documents will be made available to the public in order to give residents, associations and authorities the opportunity to find out about the plans and make comments.

The construction and operation of 12 NORDEX N149 wind turbines is currently planned for the Lübs-Ferdinandshof wind project.

The N149 wind turbines have a rotor diameter of approx. 149 m and an installed rated output of 4.0-4.5 megawatts (MW). The hub height of the turbine is approx. 164 m.

The N149 is the highest-yielding turbine for locations with wind conditions away from the direct coastline. Compared to previous models, the turbine has a 30 percent larger swept rotor area. As the maximum output of the turbine can be varied between 4.0 and 4.5 MW, it can be optimally adapted to the individual site grid specifications, local wind conditions and noise requirements. The N149/4.0-4.5 thus ensures that the highest possible energy yield is generated.

This project involves the "N149/4.38 STE 4.38MW" turbine specification with 4.38 MW and integrated serration components (STE) for noise optimization, which was specially selected for the site.

Forms of participation

Participation takes many forms. ENERTRAG has always stood for broad and multi-layered participation by citizens and local authorities. In addition to informal participation within the planning process, it is of course also about economic participation. To this end, ENERTRAG has been supporting a large number of citizens' energy companies for years. Regional companies such as municipal utilities are also involved in the operation of the projects.

In Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, the legislator has gone one step further and regulated the economic participation of citizens and municipalities by law.

Citizen and municipal participation law

The Citizen and Municipal Participation Act came into force on May 28, 2016. The basic idea of the law is to oblige project sponsors. They are to establish a limited liability company for new wind farms and then offer shares of at least 20 percent in this company to their immediate neighbors for participation. Each share may cost a maximum of 500 euros.

There are several ways to participate. Instead of acquiring shares in the company (which will operate the future wind farm), project promoters can offer the local and neighboring communities within a radius of 5 kilometers to receive an annual compensatory levy instead. The decision is made by the municipality.

In addition, the project sponsors are free to offer citizens a savings product instead of shares. This reduces the risk for private investors. By acquiring shares, they would bear not only the profits but also the losses of a project within the scope of the respective investment. One option with less risk would be to acquire a savings product. In this case, the project company could transfer profits of 10 percent to a bank. Neighbors within a five-kilometer radius can set up savings bonds or fixed-term deposits with this bank, for example. The interest on the invested money is paid with the profit from the wind farm.

Borkenfriede eG energy cooperative

Energiegenossenschaft Borkenfriede eG stands for the promotion, support and advice on issues relating to renewable energy generation. It thus offers a further approach to participation on a cooperative basis.

It is not yet clear which specific form of participation is best suited to this wind project in order to best meet the needs and wishes of local residents and communities. A continuous, well-founded consultation process with citizens and local authorities is extremely important for this. ENERTRAG will offer question and answer sessions for local residents and work closely with the municipal councils.