Community wind at work

The opening of a community owned wind farm, Bürgerwindpark Bassens, was attended in July by most of the project's neighbours. The 34, 600 kW AN Bonus turbines which make up the wind farm, sited in the parish of Wangerland in the district of Friesland, are mainly owned by local people. Together they have put over DEM 5 million into limited partnerships in the scheme.

1 September 1997

The official opening in Germany of a community owned wind farm, Bürgerwindpark Bassens, was enthusiastically attended in July by most of the project's neighbours. The 34, 600 kW AN Bonus turbines which make up the wind farm, sited in the parish of Wangerland in the district of Friesland, are mainly owned by local people. Together they have put over DEM 5 million into limited partnerships in the scheme.

Windpark Bassens, made up primarily of neighbours, tenants and farmers, owns 21 of the turbines, while another 12 are owned by Bassens Windpark and Bürgerpark, in which more than 130 Wangerland residents have shares. And a single turbine is owned by the energy planning office, Ingenieurbüro für Energieplanung, in Oldenburg.

The community ownership structure evolved as a more attractive alternative to dealing with hundreds of individual applications to erect wind turbines across a large swathe of countryside. More than DEM 43 million was invested in the 20.4 MW wind station, one of the largest in northern Germany.