EIA for Wind Turbines in Germany

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under the UVPG is, alongside noise protection, the second major hurdle in the BImSchG permitting procedure. The required depth is determined by Annex 1 Nr. 1.6 UVPG in three tiers — depending on park size.

The Three Tiers — Which Applies?

EIA decision tree under UVPG Annex 1 Nr. 1.6 — depending on park size and protected area location

Upstaging Through Protected Areas

Even if park size only requires S or A screening: when located in or directly adjacent to an FFH, bird protection, nature reserve, or landscape protection area, the screening is practically always upstaged to a full EIA, because FFH compatibility alone already triggers the investigation effort of a full UVS.

What Does the UVS Contain?

The environmental impact study (UVS) is the core document of a full EIA. It covers all protected interests:

1. Human — noise, shadow flicker, visual impact, ice throw, visibility, recreational use
2. Animals & plants — avifauna assessment, bats, biotope mapping, FFH compatibility assessment
3. Soil — foundation intervention, road construction, soil function loss
4. Water — groundwater for deep foundations, surface water for access roads
5. Climate & air — usually presented as a positive impact (CO₂ avoidance)
6. Landscape — visualization assessment with photo-montages from 6–12 viewpoints
7. Cultural & material assets — monuments, archaeologically sensitive areas
8. Interactions between protected interests

Per protected interest: inventory, impact prognosis, assessment, measures (avoidance, mitigation, compensation), and residual impact.

The Five Phases of an EIA

1. Scoping — authority and applicant agree on the scope of investigation
2. UVS preparation by the applicant (with expert consultants) — typically 9–18 months
3. Public participation — public display, objection period (minimum 1 month)
4. Hearing in formal procedure
5. Assessment & decision by the authority — integral part of the BImSchG permit

What Does an EIA Cost?

The UVS itself (the core document) typically costs EUR 30,000–80,000 in consultant fees. In addition, individual expert reports (noise, shadow flicker, species protection, landscape) together amount to EUR 50,000–150,000. The total expert report burden for a full EIA is therefore typically EUR 80,000–230,000.

Simplification for Repowering

For repowering at already anthropogenically impacted sites, the EIA depth can be justified as reduced — many protected interests have already been assessed for the existing turbines. The WaLG (2022) has explicitly strengthened repowering facilitations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if screening finds "no EIA needed"?

The authority determines that no significant environmental impacts are expected. The procedure continues without a UVS — however, individual expert reports (noise, shadow flicker, species protection) are still mandatory.

Who decides whether an EIA is needed?

The competent BImSchG authority (county office, district government, varies by federal state) — based on the screening. The decision is challengeable.

What is the difference between EIA and FFH assessment?

The EIA is the overarching environmental review. The FFH compatibility assessment is an independent procedure under § 34 BNatSchG that specifically examines compatibility with FFH conservation objectives. At FFH sites, both are usually required.

Can an NGO challenge the EIA decision?

Yes — recognized nature conservation organizations (BUND, NABU) have legal standing under the Environmental Legal Remedies Act (Umweltrechtsbehelfsgesetz). In recent years, numerous wind farms have been stopped through successful lawsuits — mostly due to deficiencies in the EIA or the species protection report.