Oberwiera Wind Turbine to Be Dismantled After Noise Complaints

A 169‑metre wind turbine in the village of Oberwiera, Saxony (Landkreis Zwickau), is scheduled for demolition in mid‑July 2026. The €10 million turbine, commissioned at the end of 2023, was intended to power up to 5,000 households but has been plagued by low‑frequency humming that residents say robs them of sleep.

Mayor Holger Quellmalz (CDU) described the situation, quoting an inhabitant: “Holger, I can’t take it any longer.” Residents such as 34‑year‑old Sarah Hahn reported hearing the constant roar even with windows closed, likening it to “an aircraft constantly circling overhead.” Attempts to mitigate the noise—including nightly shutdowns and a gearbox replacement—proved ineffective. The operator, Vestas, blamed a “unique combination of site‑specific and turbine‑specific conditions.”

Local authorities continued to grant a full operating licence despite complaints, prompting accusations of neglect. After negotiations, the operator agreed to dismantle the turbine, marking what officials say is the first full removal of a German wind turbine on noise grounds. Similar complaints have arisen elsewhere, for example in Uhingen, Baden‑Württemberg, where two turbines also generated disruptive sounds.

The case is notable as a rare instance of a wind project being withdrawn because of acoustic impact, even as Germany’s wind fleet exceeds 29,200 on‑shore turbines, according to the Bundesverband Windenergie.