One of the largest onshore wind power projects in Europe is located in the mountainous landscape of the Norwegian province of Trøndelag. But it meets with resistance. The indigenous Sami people have sued the operators of the wind farms. You can read what drives the plaintiffs in our large multimedia story.
At the wheel of the car is Christian Vogt – 53, wiry build, glasses, dark blue sneakers. He carefully maneuvers over the bumps of the Roan wind farm, part of what is currently the second largest onshore project in Europe, the Fosen project.
The associated six wind farms, which stretch across the landscape of the Norwegian province of Trøndelag, are intended to supply the region with 3.6 terawatt hours of electricity annually.
The Roan wind farm alone, with its 71 turbines, has produced around a quarter of that at best since it was completed three years ago, which is around 884 gigawatt hours (GWh). In theory, this could supply up to 100,000 Munich households with green energy. But there is no direct power line between Trøndelag and Bavaria.
Vogt, who manages a total of nine large wind farms in Norway for Stadtwerke München (SWM), is certain: “The European energy future is being shaped in Norway.” In March 2021, Stadtwerke München and its Norwegian partner Trønderenergi acquired a majority stake in Roan: all wind turbines are running and the wind conditions are ideal. But although the sun is shining that day, the first clouds are already gathering.
On a plateau in the park, around 400 meters above sea level, Vogt brings the car to a standstill. Wearing a neon yellow safety jacket and a white helmet, he gets out of the car and looks west. There the lead-grey waves of the North Sea break against the polished shore stones. The wind blows into his clothes. “There are hardly any more sensible locations than this region for producing green electricity,” he announces in a loud voice against the roaring sound of the wind turbines. If the Supreme Court in Norway had not made a court decision last year that could put an end to the Norwegian energy rush of public utilities.
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One of the largest onshore wind power projects in Europe is located in the mountainous landscape of the Norwegian province of Trøndelag. But it meets with resistance. The indigenous Sami people have sued the operators of the wind farms. You can read what drives the plaintiffs in our large multimedia story.
