- Accueil
- Actualités et public…
- Publications
- Species protection e…
- Sur cette page
25 mai 2021
Publication series – 61 de 66 Publications
Species protection exemption: Significance for wind energy
- Briefing
Germany wants to become climate neutral by 2045. This was announced by the Federal Government in response to the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court on constitutional complaints against the Climate Protection Act of 24 March 2021. This ambitious goal can only be achieved with an extensive expansion of renewable energy production, especially through the construction of wind turbines. Nevertheless, the expansion of wind energy is faltering enormously. In addition to long distances to urban areas, the main hindrance is conflicts with the regulations of species protection law, especially with regard to so-called European bird species such as the red kite. According to statements by the Federal Ministry of Economics, up to 70% of approval procedures fail due to species protection regulations, primarily because of violations of the prohibition on killing species under species protection law.
Question: When is there a violation of the prohibition of killing species under species protection law?
Answer: According to the case law of the Federal Administrative Court, a violation of the prohibition on killing under species protection law does not exist if animals of the protected species have simply been encountered in the area of influence of the wind turbines. Instead, there must be an indication that the risk of a so-called bird strike (killing of birds) is significantly increased by the project, as compared with the general life risk. The authority has the prerogative to assess whether a species protection prohibitive act according to Section 44 of the Federal Nature Conservation Act has occurred. If, after assessment, there is a significantly increased risk of killing, the project cannot be implemented. In legal terms, the focus therefore repeatedly shifts to the possibility of granting an exemption from the prohibitions under species protection law pursuant to Section 45 (7) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act. In a declaration of 13 May 2020, the environmental ministers of the German Federal States expressly emphasised that the species protection exemption within the meaning of Section 45 (7) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act is the legal means of balancing the interests of species protection with the rapid creation and safeguarding of a climate-neutral energy supply.
Question: Why is the question of exceptions to species protection prohibitions so topical right now?
Answer: A decision by the Giessen Administrative Court dated 22 January 2020 (Ref: 1 K 6019/18.GI, juris) caused quite a stir. The court had ruled that an exemption granted for the construction of wind turbines was unlawful and nullified the permit granted under the Federal Emission Protection Act. The court justified its opinion by stating that the exception in Section 45 (7) sentence 1 no. 5 Federal Nature Conservation Act (“for other imperative reasons of overriding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature”), was not applicable to European bird species due to the exhaustive list of grounds for exceptions in Article 9 (1) Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 30 November 2009 on the conservation of wild birds. The Higher Administrative Court of Münster has now contradicted this view in a decision dated 12 March 2021, ref.: 7 B 8/21, juris). According to the higher court, wind energy plants can be exempted “in the interest of public safety”. Furthermore, in the event of a violation of species protection prohibitions, the nature conservation authorities are obliged to examine in their official capacity whether an exception can be granted.
Question: What is the legal dispute?
Answer: The dispute that has been heard before the courts has existed for some time. Literature takes the view that wind energy plants are generally not eligible for exemption. On the one hand, it is disputed on which grounds within the meaning of Section 45 (7) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act exceptions to species protection prohibitions with regard to European bird species for the realisation of wind energy can be based. The grounds for exemption “in the interest of public safety” (No. 4) and “other compelling reasons of overriding public interest, including those of a social or economic nature” (No. 5) come into question. This is based on the problem that Article 9 of the European Directive on the conservation of wild birds only provides for exceptions for reasons of public safety. It is also disputed whether the provisions in Article 9 of the Directive are conclusive or can be interpreted analogously and extensively by national law.
Question: What are the implications of the decision of the Higher Administrative Court of Münster for wind turbine developments in Germany?
Answer: The case law decided by the Higher Administrative Court of Münster and the statement of the environment ministers from the Federal States have raised great hopes in the industry that a more generous handling of the exception in the sense of Section 45 (7) Federal Nature Conservation Act can facilitate expansion of wind energy in Germany. It can already be observed that the granting of exceptions within the meaning of Section 45 (7) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act is increasingly being applied. However, there are concerns that the granting of exceptions will lead to fierce resistance on the part of environmental associations and citizens and that the number of legal disputes surrounding approval procedures for wind turbines will not be reduced. In the long term, only a ruling by the European Court of Justice will be able to provide legal certainty regarding the approval of wind turbines by way of exception within the meaning of Section 45 (7) of the Federal Nature Conservation Act with regard to European bird species. Until then, careful steps should be taken to ensure that when issuing approvals using the exception in the sense of Section 45 (7) Federal Nature Conservation Act, the approval becomes valid as quickly as possible via the possibility of public announcement.
Do you have any questions or are you interested in discussing the regulatory aspects of wind turbines? The lawyers in our Environment, Planning & Regulation practice group not only have a comprehensive overview of the market and the latest developments, but can also provide support on all regulatory issues, particularly on environmental, construction, planning and product law. Our team also advises on administrative law issues, planning and approval procedures and public law project development.
Dans cette série
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
par plusieurs auteurs
FIDIC – An introduction to the FIDIC Suite 2017
22 octobre 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
The Renewable Energy Expansion Acceleration Act – a boost for the energy transition in Austria?
23 septembre 2025
par Sabine Meister
Federal Network Agency discussion paper on reforming grid fees for industry and commerce
25 septembre 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
German-Dutch Treaty on Cross-Border Energy Projects
18 septembre 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
Energy communities in Austria and the new Electricity Industry Act (ElWG)
15 septembre 2025
New amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) introduced in July and August 2025
8 septembre 2025
Clean Industrial Deal State Aid Framework (CISAF) – a new state aid framework for the green transformation of industry
8 septembre 2025
par Dr. Michael Brüggemann, Johannes Schaadt-Wambach, LL.M. (Prag)
Industrial electricity prices: initial assessment and opportunities for businesses
18 août 2025
par Johannes Schaadt-Wambach, LL.M. (Prag), Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Regulatory Framework for Transmission System Operators in Germany
18 août 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
Court ruling on the effectiveness of availability guarantees for wind turbines
31 juillet 2025
New Legal Framework for the Commercial Use of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)
11 juillet 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
Are offshore wind converter platforms a bottleneck in the energy transition? New German government wants to create production capacities at German shipyards
17 juin 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
Speeding up the energy transition - the new German government’s plans for gas and steam power plants and its quest for the right technology for renewable energy
8 mai 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
Update - Change of government opens the door to carbon capture and storage and carbon capture and utilisation
17 avril 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
The special fund for infrastructure and climate protection - what is next?
10 avril 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
Changes to CBAM through Omnibus legislative package
10 avril 2025
The role of heat probes in the energy transition: Authorisation procedures and potential
26 mars 2025
CJEU judgement on customer installations in accordance with Section 3 No. 24a Law on the Energy Industry EnWG
26 mars 2025
par Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham), Dr. Christian Ertel
Will the new German government open the door for carbon capture and storage?
26 février 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
Waste heat from data centres - new reporting obligations under the EnEfG
6 février 2025
par plusieurs auteurs
Rabigh 2 Solar Independent Power Project (IPP)
11 décembre 2024
Oman and Belgium Sign Landmark MoU on Green Hydrogen Cooperation
11 décembre 2024
Decision day: Grid fee exemption in customer systems and energy price brake put to the test
28 novembre 2024
par Dr. Christian Ertel, Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
BGH: Balance sheet allocation of electricity withdrawals at higher voltage levels in the event of supplier failure - recommended action for grid operators
11 novembre 2024
Hydrogen core network - The Federal Network Agency’s strategy for the energy transition
11 novembre 2024
par plusieurs auteurs
Amendment to the Energy Industry Act: changes for energy supply companies and grid and system operators
18 septembre 2024
par Dr. Christian Ertel, Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Standard Essential Patents: A new challenge for the IoT and smart meter world
10 septembre 2024
Land acquisition and data protection: The importance of the GDPR when project developers request owner data
18 juillet 2024
par Dr. Patrick Vincent Zurheide, LL.M. (Aberdeen), Dr. Julia Wulff
Municipalities to share profit in wind turbines and ground-mounted photovoltaic systems
11 juillet 2024
par plusieurs auteurs
Solar Package I - Overview of Changes to Ground-Mounted and Building-Mounted PV Systems
27 mai 2024
Mandatory special charge for open space photovoltaic systems in Brandenburg
21 février 2024
par plusieurs auteurs
A new era for wind energy investments in Hungary
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
26 janvier 2024
Updating the National Hydrogen Strategy
6 novembre 2023
par Dr. Niels L. Lange, LL.M. (Stellenbosch), Dr. Janina Pochhammer
The new CO2 border adjustment mechanism (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism - “CBAM”) - first statutory reporting obligations set for January 2024
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
3 novembre 2023
New IT security requirements for the energy sector
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
1 septembre 2023
par Dr. Paul Voigt, Lic. en Derecho, CIPP/E, Alexander Schmalenberger, LL.B.
Does monument protection hinder the expansion of renewable energies?
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
16 août 2023
The amending law to strengthen digitisation in the urban land use planning process and the further expansion of renewable energies
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
6 juillet 2023
Challenges for data center operators - The federal government’s draft bill for an energy efficiency act
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
12 avril 2023
par plusieurs auteurs
The Energy Charter Treaty in the Light of the Electricity Price Brake: An opportunity for investors to litigate?
27 janvier 2023
Ordinance for Determining Critical Infrastructures (KritisV): Renewable energy plants as critical infrastructure and requirements for IT protection
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
12 juillet 2022
par Dr. Paul Voigt, Lic. en Derecho, CIPP/E, Dr. Markus Böhme, LL.M. (Nottingham)
Liquefied Natural Gas Projects in Germany: The LNG Acceleration Act
Q&A series: Energy & Infrastructure
10 juin 2022
Participation of local municipalities in the context of wind and photovoltaic projects
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
5 mai 2022
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – France
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
27 avril 2022
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up - United Kingdom
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
15 mars 2022
Building energy performance: the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
14 février 2022
Fit for 55 – Hydrogen and the Reform of the European Gas Market
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
11 janvier 2022
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – Netherlands
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
2 décembre 2021
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – Poland
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
21 septembre 2021
par Olav Nemling
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up – Austria
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
18 août 2021
Renewable Energy Wrap-Up - Germany
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
12 juillet 2021
par Carsten Bartholl
Floating Foundations for Offshore Wind Farms
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
8 juin 2021
Species protection exemption: Significance for wind energy
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
25 mai 2021
Power-to-Hydrogen
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
6 avril 2021
Focus PV – Floating Solar and Agrivoltaics
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update
23 mars 2021
Related Insights
Participation of local municipalities in the context of wind and photovoltaic projects
Power Play: Renewable Energy Update