320 men and women produce plastic pipe systems for industrial and building technology at “Maincor” in Knetzgau. The company has consumed around 200,000 euros of electricity annually so far. The company needs ten million kilowatts per year. “Maincor” generates about 20 percent of this itself with photovoltaic systems on all the roofs of the production halls and the administration building. But that’s not enough. That’s why the company now wants to build its own wind turbine.
260 meter high wind turbine planned
According to the wishes of Managing Director Dieter Pfister, the wind turbine is to be built not far from the company in the Main valley. It would cost between six and seven million euros. Depending on the frequency and strength of the wind, the investment costs would be amortized in eight to 16 years. The wind turbine is to be 260 meters high at the rotor tip.
New legislation should help
If only the 10-H rule applied, the wind turbine could not be approved. It would be only 800 meters away from the first residential development. According to the 10-H rule, the system would have to be at least 2,600 meters away. However, because it is to be built in a commercial and industrial area and on the nearby and therefore noisy Autobahn A 70 Schweinfurt-Bamberg, it could be approved. Now that, among other things, reports on the subject of protecting birds and amphibians, plants and nature in general have been obtained, Pfister is hoping for the approval of the Knetzgau municipal council and the Haßberge district office.
Electricity cost benefit for Knetzgau citizens
Initially, Pfister had thought of possible citizen participation in the planned wind turbine. “But only those who have a lot of money can participate. Those who don’t have a lot of money are disadvantaged.” That is why he is planning a new way: 20 percent of the electricity production, which corresponds to around ten million kilowatt hours, should go to the citizens of Knetzgau. “With a price reduction of 20 percent compared to the market price, everyone benefits,” says Pfister. “Maincor” would not be completely self-sufficient in electricity, even with its own wind turbine.
Turning off Putin’s money supply for the Ukraine war with renewable electricity
“Even if the wind comes from the east, Putin cannot influence it,” says Pfister. The company’s CEO wants to achieve maximum energy independence and encourage other companies to think and act in this direction, because it would reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, he says.
Pfister hopes that the wind turbine will generate electricity for its own operation in three years at the latest. According to “Maincor”, it could be the first wind turbine to generate electricity in-house in Bavaria or even in all of Germany.
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