Norwegian company Statkraft has unveiled plans for its first wind farm in Germany, the 36MW Oedelsheim development in the Wesertal valley in northern Hesse.
The company said it aims to install up to six turbines by 2025 across a 67-hectare forest area in Bramwald.
Statkraft has already started wind measurements, which are planned for at least 12 months.
The first results of the species protection surveys are expected to be available at the end of this year, and then presented next year.
Oedelsheim is expected to supply around 20,000 households and save around 54,000 tonnes of CO2.
Statkraft will also offer residents of the Wesertal and Uslar communities the opportunity to participate financially in the wind farm with a citizen wind turbine and an additional subordinated loan.
The company will offer the municipalities the maximum amount of €0.02 a kilowatt-hour generated, which has been permitted under the EEG since January 2021.
To keep the environmental impact as low as possible, Statkraft is planning for the turbines to be installed largely on damaged and tree-free areas.
The company said it is committed to compensating for the loss of forest areas by a factor of two through reforestation and forest development.
Statkraft head of wind and solar in Germany Claus Urbanke said: “With the Oedelsheim wind farm, we are creating the basis for our market entry in Germany.
“The project is an important step in achieving our Group strategy of developing 8000MW of wind and solar energy worldwide by 2025.”