2017: Wertewind – public participation as part of fair wind farm planning

By founding WKN WERTEWIND GmbH, the PNE Group established a participation model that specifically encourages the involvement of citizens and landowners in wind energy projects. The subsidiary of WKN GmbH focuses on ownership concepts that are geared towards transparency and regional value creation from the outset. 

One such example is “Langstedt” wind farm in Schleswig-Holstein with its citizens’ savings plan. The project was developed in close consultation with the local stakeholders – an approach that is also embraced in the Group’s other projects. 

The “Schleswig-Holstein Fair Wind Farm Planner” quality seal is visible evidence of this strategy in action. WKN and WERTEWIND were the first companies to be awarded this quality seal. It is based on guidelines produced by the Wind Energy Technology Institute at Flensburg University of Applied Sciences and is awarded by an independent testing body. The criteria include fairly drafted contracts, transparent communication and the opportunity to participate financially. 

The PNE Group is using this approach to show how wind energy projects can also address socially sustainable considerations rather than merely focus on the technical aspect.