The signing of the usage contracts paves the way for the expansion of wind energy in the community. But what happens next?
In order to achieve the goal of climate neutrality, expansion with renewable energies must also be further promoted in Baden-Württemberg. According to the Climate Protection Act, two percent of the region's area should be secured for this purpose, and according to federal guidelines, 1,8 percent should be secured for wind energy. The Neckar-Alb regional association is obliged to secure the areas for this. The partial updates should be legally binding by the end of 2025.
The federal and state goals were taken very seriously in Römerstein, said Mayor Anja Sauer when the usage contracts were signed with the two project planners EnBW and Schöller SI GmbH on Tuesday. Nine to ten wind turbines are theoretically possible in the EnBW pool area (Zainingen district) and two to four in the Schöller GmbH pool area (Donnstetten district), according to the contractual partners.
There have been many discussions going on for a long time
From the beginning it was about acting instead of reacting and helping to designate the area. This was the only way it was possible to incorporate the wishes and goals of the community, explained Sauer. Especially when it comes to wind energy, Römerstein is considered a good location, including among project developers, which is why there have been a number of applicants since the regional plan was announced. A number of negotiations, discussions and meetings have taken place since 2022, and not just with possible contractual partners. There was a public information event, discussions and resolutions in the local council, dialogues with various interest groups and critics, but also affected citizens and owners. The Künstlerr architecture and urban planning office was also involved and took care of the necessary planning on behalf of the community. Self-discovery should always come before external ties, explained Clemens Künstler. Römerstein acted in an exemplary manner here.
Passion and big goals
“Our job is to increase the quality of life,” explained Willi Schöller, CEO of Schöller SI, who was on site together with Managing Director Ersah Öztürk. Adding value is the company's passion and the work is a lot of fun when the local mayors present themselves as designers like Anja Sauer. “Now we can start on a foundation that forms a good basis,” said Schöller.
“We actively phased out nuclear power and actively phased out coal-fired power,” said Michael Soukup, team leader for EnBW’s wind power south division. Getting out means getting in somewhere else, and EnBW has set itself big goals here.
There is still a lot to do before the first rotor blades turn
The usage contracts for the areas in the eastern part of Römerstein have now been signed. However, the construction of the 160 to 199 meter high wind turbines, whose rotor blades have a diameter of up to 180 meters, will not take place so quickly. “If everything goes well, it will be 2026/2027 at best before the first wind turbine turns,” explains Soukup with regard to the timetable. Schöller SI expects the first installation to take place a year later, as the area represents a greater challenge due to, among other things, further environmental assessments. But “we are used to drilling thick boards,” says Schöller.
“Project development is the supreme discipline,” explains Willi Schöller, and is similar to the decathlon in athletics. Although many planning processes have already taken place in parallel, and preliminary consultations with the regional association have already taken place, further investigations are still pending - for example wind measurements, soil samples and further pollution control reports. In addition, the Bundeswehr and the weather service would only announce possible objections relatively late in the process. But for Schöller SI and EnBW, this is not the first time planning wind turbines. It is theoretically possible that no wind turbines can be built here, but in practice it is almost certainly not the case. However, the district office ultimately grants approval.
Contract discussions with many property owners are pending
A lot will happen in the next one to one and a half years, but in the background. Discussions with property owners and hopefully corresponding contracts would still be pending. EnBW has already started this. There are around 400 owners in this area, which corresponds to ten percent of the population. About 100 in the one from Schöller SI. The pool contracts, which create equal contractual conditions for everyone, would have resulted in broad acceptance, according to EnBW. How much the rent is exactly was not answered. Just this much: “A six-figure amount, with a one in front of it.”
There could be wind turbines in Römerstein in the future. EnBW would like to build nine to ten, two to four Schöller SI. But the first will not turn until 2026/2027.
© SWP, Römerstein March 12, 2024 | An article by Karolin Müller