State Government Approves Rannersdorf III Wind Farm

The Lower Austria state government unanimously approved the expansion of the Rannersdorf wind farm with the votes of the FPÖ, SPÖ, and ÖVP, after the environmental impact assessments were completed with positive results. “We are committed to energy from our region, because this strengthens our economy and our environment. Above all, the expansion of green energy increases our energy independence from regions such as Russia and the Arab world. This joint decision benefits both the economy and the environment,” said Deputy Governor Stephan Pernkopf.

At Windkraft Simonsfeld’s Rannersdorf III wind farm, four existing older wind turbines are being replaced by four new, more powerful turbines as part of a repowering project. With a total capacity of 23 MW, the wind turbines will generate 48 million kWh of electricity per year, enough to cover the annual electricity needs of 12,000 households. The total investment volume amounts to approximately €39 million. Markus Winter is very pleased with the project: “With our repowering project, we can triple the total electricity production at this site while maintaining the same number of turbines. In doing so, we are making another significant contribution to a secure and affordable energy supply while strengthening Austria’s energy independence.”

Pernkopf concludes: “The provincial government has made the expansion of renewable energy a common goal. While progress is being slowed down in other regions, around 190 new wind turbines have already been approved and adopted by the provincial government here since 2023. Lower Austria is already the Austrian province with the highest amount of green electricity and the greatest reduction in CO₂ emissions. Since 2005, emissions in our province have fallen by 35 percent. Our goal in energy and climate policy is clear: progress through technology rather than decline driven by ideology.”