On the horizon of the Long Rhön, the outlines of the wind turbines can be seen from afar and the rotor blades also protrude from the treetops of the Steigerwald. Although wind power was taboo in these places for a long time, this idea is no longer far-fetched. Because with the planned abolition of the 10H rule at federal level, over 170 new wind turbines could be built in Lower Franconia.
The expansion of so-called priority areas to 1.8 percent of the area by 2032 also enables new plans for wind energy in the region. There are currently 258 wind turbines in the administrative district. This number is given by the Main-Rhön, Würzburg and Untermain planning associations at the request of BR24.
Significantly more possibilities without 10H – but not everywhere
Oliver Weidlich, senior government director at the Lower Franconia government, is responsible for the technical work of the three regional planning associations. According to him, the lifting of the 10H rule in June next year means there are significantly more options for planning and building wind turbines, but there are still hurdles: “The Lower Main is very densely populated, and where it is not densely populated , are nature or landscape protection areas,” says Weidlich.
Wind power from Spessart and Steigerwald?
In the future, too, there would have to be a distance of almost 1,000 meters from one facility to the next. It is particularly difficult to plan new wind turbines on the Lower Main. According to Weidlich, landscape protection areas such as the Spessart are therefore also being examined and it is being looked at whether it would be possible to generate wind energy there. The Rhön or the Steigerwald should also become possible areas for wind turbines.
Expansion of existing locations
At the moment, the construction of wind turbines in landscape protection areas is still prohibited. According to Weidlich, that should change soon. According to Oliver Weidlich, the existing wind farm locations have priority for new wind turbines, so that the wind turbines are concentrated and not isolated.
No plans on the lower Main yet
According to an estimate by Weidlich, almost 50 new plants could be built in and around Würzburg. There would then be new priority areas near Greußenheim, Bergtheim, Üttingen and Dettelbach. A total of 22 new priority areas are named in the regional plan of the Würzburg Planning Association. According to Weidlich, a further 120 wind turbines would be possible in the Main-Rhön region. It is not yet possible to estimate a possible number of new wind turbines for the Lower Main, as no priority areas have yet been identified there.
–
