WIND ENERGY UP AND RUNNING IN GOMADINGEN
Wind turbine construction commencement in Gomadingen initiates
Get ready, Gomadingen! The RES-led wind farm project is picking up speed. Construction of the substation commenced back in the spring, and now, foundation work for the five wind turbines has kicked off. By summer of 2026, these turbines, boasting a combined capacity of 31 megawatts, will power around 21,500 households annually, producing approximately 65 million kilowatt-hours of electricity.
Crucial Foundation Milestone Reached
The wind farm's location, nestled in the Gomadingen-Eichberg region, has been designated for wind energy use in the land use plan of the administrative community of Munsingen-Gomadingen-Mehrstetten. Sven Teweis, construction project manager at RES, highlighted the significance of laying the foundations: "This achievement brings us a step closer to next year's planned commissioning."
Each of the Vestas V162 wind turbines will stand on a roughly 24.50-meter-wide flat foundation, towering up to 2.90 meters high. The construction process for each foundation takes about two weeks, followed by a four-week curing phase. The foundations, built on stable limestone, utilize locally sourced materials for the gravel work, with the excavated soil reused within the project area, thereby conserving resources.
The woodland location necessitates distinctive logistical measures to minimize clearing. For instance, rotor blades will be stored externally to the forest and transported to the wind turbines just-in-time as necessary.
Soil Analysis and Precautions
Before construction was approved, intensive geotechnical investigations were carried out to delve into the soil's characteristics. These included geoelectrical and seismic measurements that accessed deeper layers and boreholes reaching up to 20 meters in depth. This information helps understand the subsoil's nature, especially in areas with complex geological structures.
The Gomadingen subsoil primarily consists of limestone, where karstification can occur. These natural cavities in the rock - such as caves, dolines, or fissures - are accounted for in the foundation planning to ensure long-term structural stability. In planning phases, power line routes, locations, and access routes are intentionally designed to avoid sensitive areas, with the power line route placed outside the particularly protected water protection zone II.
A forested wind farm like Gomadingen presents various challenges and considerations:
- Environmental Impact: Forest protection, minimizing noise and visual pollution.
- Geological and Topographical Challenges: Coping with complex geology, handling forested terrain.
- Access and Infrastructure: Building access roads, integrating with the electricity grid.
- Technical and Engineering Considerations: Turbine selection, foundation design.
- Permitting and Regulatory Compliance: Obtaining environmental permits, community engagement.
- Operational Maintenance: Ensuring accessibility for maintenance in forested, potentially difficult terrain.
While the search results don't provide specific insights into the Gomadingen project, these considerations are beneficial in understanding challenges faced by wind farms in complex environments.
- The construction of the wind farm in Gomadingen, which will contribute significantly to the renewable-energy industry by producing a substantial amount of electricity, is financed by the appropriate authorities.
- With the successful completion of the foundation work for the wind turbines, the wind farm's finance sector can look forward to the projected return on investment by summer of 2026, as these turbines generate enough energy to power around 21,500 households annually.
