Urban wind power: Berlin as an example for European cities
In June, the Berlin Senate designated eight priority areas for wind energy. This has sparked an intense debate: How can Berlin secure 0.5% of its land area for wind power by 2032 – in a city with dense development, nature reserves, and competing land uses?
To provide guidance for this debate, we have submitted a statement to the Senate and calculated the potential of these areas based on a simple scenario: one wind turbine per area.
The result:
➤ 127,766 MWh of electricity per year – enough for:
➤ 72,184 households
➤ 1,704 schools
➤ 102 swimming pools
And that's just the beginning: up to 30 wind turbines could be built on these eight areas, making an even greater contribution to the energy transition.
Find out more: Download our management report now free of charge – with all the figures, maps, and background information.
📥 Download the management report here free of charge (in German)
Why quick yield estimates are crucial
Berlin's priority areas are a prime example of how complex land designations are in urban areas. Especially in this early phase, politicians, administrators, and project developers need a solid basis for:
✅ Estimating orders of magnitude (What do the areas yield?)
✅ identify opportunities and limitations (where is in-depth planning worthwhile?),
✅ and make informed decisions before working out the details.
Our yield estimates provide this guidance—within a few days instead of several months. This is made possible by a hybrid approach: automated site analyses are combined with the expertise of our experts and validated data.
Advantages:
- Quick overview for strategic discussions
- High precision through integration of regulatory parameters (species protection, noise, shadow casting)
- Basis for downstream expert reports and approval processes
Wind reports as the next stage of quality assurance
Once the priority areas are converted into concrete projects, precise wind assessments are needed as a basis for financing, approvals, and investment decisions.
Our ilac-accredited wind assessments ensure this quality:
- Full consideration of all relevant factors
- High acceptance by authorities and banks
- Minimization of planning risks
Why is this relevant?
Berlin is legally obliged to allocate at least 0.25% of its land area to wind power by the end of 2027 and 0.5% by 2032 – equivalent to around 450 hectares. Without this land designation, extended privileges could come into effect, allowing wind turbines to be built in rural areas without the city being able to intervene.
At the same time, the capital's electricity demand will at least double by 2040 – due to e-mobility and the heating transition. Urban wind energy can be a key component in meeting this demand and achieving the goal of 80% renewables in the electricity mix by 2030.
The eight priority areas could also save around 51,100 tons of CO₂ annually – equivalent to the sequestration capacity of around 4 million trees.
What does this mean for other cities?
Berlin shows that even in urban areas, significant renewable energy potential can be tapped – with rapid yield estimates, conservatively calculated scenarios, and accredited wind assessments as the basis for planning security.
Meet us at Husum Wind!
We will be there (booth Hall 5 5A25) and look forward to talking to you. Let's discuss how urban wind power can become a driver of the energy transition—and what role precise analyses, yield estimates, and expert reports play in this.
📅 Arrange a meeting on site now—we will take the time to answer your questions and listen to your ideas.
