Wind Energy Guides
The most common questions about wind turbines — fact-based, with concrete figures and sources. For residents, project planners, municipalities and anyone who wants to understand how wind turbines really work.
How close to homes may a wind turbine stand?
Minimum setbacks by federal state, the 10H rule, the TA Lärm (German noise protection guideline) buffer — when which distance applies.
How loud is a wind turbine?
Sound levels in dB(A), comparison with everyday noise, what reaches the home, the night mode.
How long does a wind turbine permit take?
Realistic timeframes for the BImSchG (Federal Immission Control Act) procedure, where the bottleneck is, how to speed it up.
How long does a wind turbine last?
Technical service life, EEG (Renewable Energy Sources Act) support period, continued operation and repowering after 20 years.
How much electricity does a wind turbine generate?
Annual yield of modern turbines, household equivalents, full-load hours per site.
How dangerous is ice throw from wind turbines?
Throw distances, real frequency, ice-build-up detection, protective measures near traffic routes.
Does a wind turbine kill many birds?
Real collision figures in context, endangered species such as the red kite, anti-collision systems.
How disruptive is shadow flicker?
Limit values (30 h/year, 30 min/day), the shutdown module, when a report is mandatory.
How much lease does a wind turbine pay?
Lease models, EUR 20,000–100,000/year per turbine, what landowners should watch for in the contract.
How do the municipality & residents benefit?
The § 6 EEG levy, trade tax, community-wind cooperative and discounted electricity.
Does a wind turbine lower property values?
What studies (RWI) really show: a small, distance-dependent and often temporary effect.
How are wind turbines recycled?
More than 90% recoverable — the sticking point is the rotor blades made of fibre composite.
What does a BImSchG procedure really cost?
A realistic EUR 150,000–400,000 per turbine — reports, authority fees and what drives the price.
How is a wind farm financed?
20–30% equity, 70–80% project finance — who finances it, what the bank requires.
Continued operation or repowering — when does which pay off?
Five decision levers: OPEX, technology, structural stability, permitting, lease.
Who decommissions a wind turbine & what does it cost?
EUR 30,000–80,000 per MW, foundation EUR 20,000–40,000, a surety bond protects the owner.
What happens to the lease contract during repowering?
Repowering clause, pool models, lease adjustment — the most important negotiation moment.
How tall is a modern wind turbine?
Total height 230–280 m, why height drives the yield (wind shear) and which limits apply.
How much electricity does a solar park supply?
1,000 kWh/kWp on the German average — a 10 MWp plant supplies ~3,300 households.
How quickly can a solar park be built?
Construction 3–6 months, overall process 12–18 months — the bottleneck is permitting.
Does a solar park disturb nature?
What studies show: with the right design, often even a biodiversity gain.
How much CO₂ does a wind turbine save?
344 g CO₂/kWh in the power mix (UBA 2025) — a 6 MW turbine saves ~6,200 t/year.
What happens to wind turbines in a storm?
Cut-out at 25 m/s vs. modern storm control with reduced output.
Why do some wind turbines stand still?
The 7 most common reasons: shadow flicker, species protection, grid curtailment, maintenance & more.
Wind Energy Guides – The key facts at a glance
Planning a concrete wind turbine project?
Beyond the guides, we connect you with qualified engineering firms for expert reports, permitting and planning — free initial referral.
Submit an enquiry