Celebrating Wind Energy Co-Op's Milestone
Wind businesses and community energy advocates applauded their collaborative efforts
June 28, 2025, 10:47 PM
Who said citizens can't make a difference in the pursuit of clean energy? A wind energy project in Großschwabhausen is shaking things up, as a cooperation between a wind company and three citizen energy cooperatives is making waves. The Thuringian Energy and Greentec Agency ThEGA recognized this groundbreaking endeavour with an award.
By Loréne Gensel, at our website THÜRINGEN
In a first for ThEGA, a wind energy company and a consortium of citizen energy cooperatives received an award for their joint project on wind energy. The plan involves constructing a wind farm near Großschwabhausen, jointly backed by "Energiequelle" and the citizen energy cooperatives "Saale-Holzland", "Ilmtal", and "Jena". This agreement allows the cooperatives to become co-owners of the wind farm and reap the profits from wind power generation.
Empowering Citizens with Wind Turbines
Ramona Rothe, head of the "Wind Service" department at ThEGA, lauded the project at the award ceremony, highlighting it as an exemplary model for citizen involvement and local added value. According to Rothe, it ensures that a portion of power production stays within Thuringian hands, benefiting locals rather than external investors. ThEGA has supported the project since 2019, even through the resistance from the municipality and a local citizen initiative against the wind farm.
A Bumpy Road for the Wind Farm
Stefan Siegmund, head of project management for Thuringia at "Energiequelle", acknowledged the numerous challenges the wind farm project faced and those yet to be overcome. The area northwest of Großschwabhausen was designated a priority area only in 2023. At the same time, the municipality initiated an agri-PV project there, causing significant delays in obtaining the building permit needed for the wind farm. Without this permit, Energiequelle could not participate in the nationwide tender for state wind power funding, planned for summer 2024 – a delay already estimated to result in an economic loss of 250,000 euros.
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Empowering ThÜRINGEN - The RadioAward for Wind Energy Project Operators
Recognition for Wind Energy Project Operators
In Großschwabhausen, the company "Energiequelle" is planning a wind farm alongside three Thuringian citizen energy cooperatives. This project, marked by perseverance, was acknowledged by the Thuringian Energy and Greentec Agency.
Matthias Golle from the board of the Bürgerenergiegenossenschaft "Ilmtal e.G." shared his perspective, "The location in Großschwabhausen is ideal for wind energy. It was either this project or investors from other states, as is usually the case in 90% of projects in Thuringia. We wanted to stay involved to safeguard the project for Thuringian citizens."
It took six long years to obtain a building permit for the first two wind turbines – no small feat. Despite the challenges, the number of members in the Bürgerenergiegenossenschaften has grown during this time. On average, each member of the three cooperatives holds 15 shares, each worth 500 euros. Combined forces make fundraising effortless.
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19 comments
emlo 1 hour ago
Let's say it this way: When profits from such an installation start flowing into your wallet, the perceived issues with wind turbines suddenly don't loom quite so large and ominous. Whether you choose to label that "corruption," I leave that to your discretion. I'd argue that it might help foster a more realistic perspective on the matter.
Horst 3 hours ago
"But that's immaterial, as the wind turbines will be constructed on someone else's property." Why should that matter to you? If they're built adjacent to residential buildings or even detached house settlements, you can't exactly prevent that, either."To ensure proper decommissioning and disposal of the wind turbines after their operational life has ended," this practice should consistently be applied to all construction projects – be it industrial facilities, commercial buildings, or large family homes.
martin 5 hours ago
In a cooperative, citizens invest in business shares, but not the cooperative itself. Whether you're personally corrupt, I can't determine that. I am not a corrupt individual, though I am part of cooperatives.
The Thuringian Energy and Greentec Agency has backed a joint project between "Energiequelle" and citizen energy cooperatives to construct a wind farm. This agreement allows the cooperatives to reap profits from wind power generation and ensures a portion of the power production remains within Thuringian hands.
By participating in the wind farm project, citizens are not only investing in business shares but also actively working towards a more sustainable future, demonstrating that citizens can indeed make a difference in the pursuit of renewable energy.
