Wind Repowering in Berlin

Berlin is a city-state — not a meaningful market for wind turbines of relevant size. The WaLG (Wind Energy Areas Requirement Act) obligation is reduced to 0.25%; the few wind sites lie on the city's outskirts, often in conflict with neighbouring development.

Market Data

Recommendation for Investors

For wind investments out of Berlin, look to neighbouring Brandenburg (3,900 turbines, high repowering activity, WaLG target already met) or Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (community-wind pioneer).

Related Topics

• PPA models: Berlin industry as a potential offtaker for Brandenburg wind power
• Financing: Berlin banks (KfW IPEX, Triodos) finance wind projects in the neighbouring federal states

Permitting in Berlin

The responsible authority is the Senate Department for Mobility, Transport, Climate Protection and the Environment (SenMVKU). The BImSchG (Federal Immission Control Act) permit is processed through the State Office for Occupational Safety, Health Protection and Technical Safety (LAGetSi). Owing to the dense built-up area, stricter immission limits effectively apply (mixed/residential area instead of the unzoned outer area), which severely restricts the permitting feasibility of onshore wind turbines.

Ground-Mounted PV on the City Outskirts

More relevant than wind is solar energy: Berlin promotes rooftop PV (Masterplan Solarcity), while ground-mounted PV emerges occasionally on former railway land and along motorway verges. For large-scale solar parks, the same applies as for wind — the available land lies practically in Brandenburg. The Senate Department is targeting an installed PV capacity of 4.4 GWp within the city by 2035 — primarily through rooftop and façade systems.

Wind energy in Berlin – city-state and gateway to Brandenburg