The East Thuringia regional planning community controls wind energy expansion with a new sub-plan
On 4 June 2025 in Kahla, the planning assembly of the Eastern Thuringia regional planning community decided to carry out an initial participation procedure for the draft of the "Wind energy and safeguarding cultural heritage" sectoral sub-plan. The sectoral sub-plan "Wind energy and safeguarding cultural heritage" combines the necessary expansion of renewable energies with the protection of important cultural monuments in the region. The ambitious plan aims to legally designate 1.4 percent of the region's area for wind energy by the end of 2027 at the latest in order to meet legal requirements and prevent the threat of uncontrolled growth in the construction of wind turbines. At the same time, the environmental protection of cultural heritage sites of international, national and Thuringia-wide importance is ensured.
Legal framework conditions require significant expansion
The Federal Wind Energy Area Requirements Act (WindBG) obliges Thuringia to make a total of 2.2 % of the state's land available for wind energy by 2032. These federal legal requirements were regionalized to the four Thuringian planning regions via the Thuringia 2025 state development programme.
According to these requirements, 6,632 hectares (1.4 %) must be legally designated as priority areas for wind energy in the planning region of Eastern Thuringia by the end of 2027 and 8,106 hectares (1.7 %) by the end of 2032. Currently, 0.4% of the regional area in Eastern Thuringia is earmarked for wind energy use. However, this partial wind energy plan from 2020 does not meet the federal and state planning requirements. This means that there is an acute need to update the regional planning specifications for wind energy use.
Without a plan, "uncontrolled growth" threatens
If the specified area targets are not achieved or the sub-plan does not come into force in time by December 31, 2027, wind energy plants can be erected largely uncontrolled in outdoor areas where the legal requirements are met. If the target is not met, the distances to settlements would fall back to the statutory minimum standard, among other things, with significant disadvantages compared to the precautionary distances taken into account in the planning. The erection of wind turbines would also be possible without restriction in landscape conservation areas and nature parks, provided these are not protected as nature conservation areas or Natura 2000 sites. The protection and preservation of important visual axes and visual areas to and from cultural heritage sites would also be jeopardized.
Methodically structured designation procedure
The 67 priority areas now designated in the sub-plan are intended to prevent precisely this uncontrolled growth. The areas are determined using a staged assessment procedure. A distinction is made between criteria that promote designation and taboo zones in which no priority areas are designated. Among other things, precautionary distances to residential use, water, nature, landscape and monument protection concerns, distances to traffic routes and infrastructure facilities as well as sufficient wind potential are taken into account. The remaining areas are then subjected to a detailed case-by-case assessment under regional planning and environmental aspects before the final determination of the priority areas in the areas assessed as suitable. The planning concept ensures that all relevant aspects and concerns are taken into account. The methodology corresponds to the current technical standards of regional planning and creates legal certainty for all parties involved.
Cultural heritage as a planning priority
The sub-plan also integrates the protection of 13 cultural heritage sites in Eastern Thuringia, including Dornburg Castle and Leuchtenburg Castle. Planning restrictions apply to these sites, which are intended to prevent visual impairments caused by wind turbines or other structures. This approach reflects a growing awareness of the importance of cultural heritage as an identity-forming factor, as Eastern Thuringia has an exceptionally rich heritage landscape.
Participation procedure and timetable
The draft plan and other relevant documents will be made available to the public from 14.07.2025 to 15.09.2025 inclusive. Citizens, local authorities, institutions and associations can express their concerns and make specific comments during this period. The participation phase is an essential part of the democratic planning process and enables commentators to express their suggestions, concerns and comments. Once it has been revised on the basis of the comments received, the sub-plan should enter into force by the end of 2027 at the latest.
The complete planning documents, the display locations and inspection times, the opportunities to submit comments and general information on the procedure for drawing up the "Wind energy and safeguarding cultural heritage" sectoral plan are available online.
Contact for queries
If you have any queries, please contact the Regional Planning Agency for Eastern Thuringia on 0361 / 57 334-4400 or send an e-mail to regionalplanung-ost@tlvwa.thueringen.de.