Wind energy in German forests maintains small permanent footprint

An evaluation by the Fachagentur Wind und Solar regarding wind energy in German forests indicates that the permanent land footprint for wind turbines is relatively small. As of late 2025, approximately 2,653 wind turbines with a total capacity of 8,117 megawatts were operating on German forest land, accounting for 12 percent of the country's installed onshore wind capacity.

On average, operators permanently clear approximately 0.51 hectares of forest per turbine, an area smaller than a football field. While construction sites often require more space, operators typically reforest these areas within two years.

Despite these figures, the debate continues. The Umweltbundesamt has argued that intact forests provide the best contribution to climate protection and should not be cleared for wind turbines. Other concerns raised include local public acceptance, ecosystem disturbances, and collision risks for birds and bats.