Carinthia's wind power: groundbreaking zoning for future projects!

Carinthia's wind power: groundbreaking zoning for future projects!

In Carinthia, an important step is taken towards renewable energies: the country is planning the zoning for wind power. After years of discussions, the responsible speakers, deputy governor Martin Gruber and State Councilor Sebastian Schuschnig, developed a framework that is intended to clarify both wind farms and the population. According to the two politicians, wind farms should only be possible in seven municipalities, with sensitive areas such as national parks and landscape protection areas to be excluded from the zoning. "The areas in which wind farms are said to be possible are very limited," said Schuschnig. The focus is on promoting wind power in regions where infrastructure is already available. The zoned areas include only 0.26 percent of the country.

First wind farm started in Carinthia

in St. Georgen in the Lavant Valley was inaugurated by Carinthia's first wind farm with a solemn groundbreaking ceremony. The project operator Ecowind plans to build eight wind turbines that were long in coming and are now supposed to bring the necessary momentum for the energy transition in Carinthia. Johann Janker from Ecowind was pleased that these wind turbines will generate enough electricity for 7 percent of Carinthian households and at the same time save CO2 emissions of more than 11,000 cars per year. The construction site is expected to create 110 jobs during the construction period and in the following 20 years generate 27.7 million euros in domestic value creation, as the Wirtschaftszeit reported.

Carinthia already has 56 percent renewable energies in its energy consumption and is therefore a leader in Austria. Nevertheless, it was emphasized that more must be done: the fossil energy consumption should be halved, while the generation of electricity has to be doubled in order to achieve climate neutrality by 2040. A clear zoning could be the key so that Carinthia can decide in the future where wind power can be operated. "A total ban would be massively harmful to the location," said Schuschnig. The draft for wind power zoning is scheduled to be presented this year with the aim of starting the strategic environmental test immediately. A decision of the zoning would be possible in 2025, as Dolomitenstadt reported.