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The planned Grenchenberg wind farm has to be smaller to protect the birds. No problem, it says now.
There has been a dispute over the Grenchenberg wind farm for over ten years. Six wind turbines on the Grenchenberg in the Solothurn Jura should produce around 30 gigawatt hours of electricity a year. This corresponds to two thirds of the energy consumption of the city of Grenchen with almost 18,000 inhabitants. But in November 2021, the federal court ruled that the wind farm must be downsized. Only four instead of six wind turbines are allowed to protect the birds.
The Grenchen Municipal Works (SWG) have now decided that they will continue with the project despite the ordered redimensioning. In all the years that the energy supplier company has been arguing with nature conservation associations, the wind turbines have become more modern. According to the company, the wind conditions on the Grenchenberg are still good, even above average in an international comparison. The park is to be realized.
Legend:
Six wind turbines were originally planned. Four more are allowed. The wind farm project in the neighboring community died a good two years ago.
zvg/swg
“With current wind turbines, almost the same amount of renewable electricity can be produced at four locations as with the previous generation at the originally planned six locations,” writes the SWG in its press release. The technical development of wind turbines has made great progress. “A new generation of wind turbines with around 30 percent more power is now available.” The wind farm on Grenchenberg can also be operated economically in this way.
A new generation of wind turbines with higher output is now available.
The SWG states that around 34 million euros would have to be invested in the four approved locations. That’s about the same as planned from the start. In this way, the SWG is making a contribution to the success of the energy transition.
Of course it’s not quite that simple. The planning application is still pending before the administrative court. It will now be supplemented with the requirements of the Federal Supreme Court or, if necessary, re-entered. At the same time, the company is already ordering the wind turbines so that “from today’s perspective, the wind farm can go into operation in 2025,” says SWG Managing Director Per Just. “At the end of their service life, the wind turbines can be completely dismantled and recycled,” assures the electricity supplier.
7 million francs and staying power
The Federal Supreme Court decision is good news with a drop of bitterness, says manager Per Just. Over the 15 years, the development of the project cost the company around seven million francs. Just thinks that the planning specifications would have to become much simpler if the energy transition is to be achieved. The Federal Council has announced that it wants to simplify the previous specifications.
Per Just leaves open whether there will always be four wind turbines, as approved by the Federal Court, or then six wind turbines on the Grenchenberg. There would be room for two more wind turbines, and the distance to the birds’ breeding grounds would be large enough, he says. That’s why the SWG doesn’t want to give up the idea of six wind turbines entirely. At the same time as the planned wind farm, clarifications are being made for two other wind turbines nearby, Just tells SRF.