Zoom Image

Heavy transports on the motorway: The state-owned Autobahn GmbH wants to simplify the testing process

Photo: Hendrik Schmidt / dpa

Ironically, in the important wind region of northwestern Germany, the expansion of wind power is faltering - due to unprocessed applications for heavy transports. At the regional branch of the state-owned Autobahn GmbH, which has to submit statements to the approving states, a larger proportion of the inquiries are unprocessed – according to "Bild am Sonntag" around 15,000. However, a spokesman for Autobahn GmbH denied the newspaper's information that the branch, which mainly covers Lower Saxony and parts of Hesse, would no longer accept applications.

The spokesman said on Sunday that the aim was to simplify and speed up the review process. "To this end, the practice adopted by the federal states with the start of operations of Autobahn GmbH is currently being converted to a nationwide uniform and largely automated motorway solution. In areas where the new test procedure has already been introduced, stable processing times can be recorded. Where manual review procedures are still used and subtasks are carried out by the federal states in the form of cooperation, there may currently be delays in the processing of applications due to the increased number of hearings. Countermeasures are being taken here with personnel reinforcement."

According to the newspaper, 150 permits are required to transport the components of a wind turbine. Transport State Secretary Oliver Luksic (43, FDP) announced in the paper a significant acceleration of approvals. This included fewer escort vehicles and permanent permits.

As early as January, logistics expert Helmut Schgeiner said in an interview with mm that currently around 80, sometimes even up to 100 large-capacity and heavy transports are required before a wind turbine is up and running and produces electricity. Even the construction of such a crane requires a large number of transports.

According to Schgeiner, one problem is that the plants are constantly getting bigger. "But with rotor blades over 100 meters long, we reach our limits."

DRI/dpa-AFX