Green electricity

Wind measurements in Brand planned for one year

Vorarlberg energy supplier Illwerke VKW wants to collect data on the roof of the Gulmabahn mountain station. 

When will the rotor blades of a wind turbine turn for the first time in Vorarlberg? That remains to be seen, but it is certain that the local energy supplier Illwerke VKW wants to carry out a one-year wind measurement in Brand. "The measurement project in Brand makes an important contribution to further improving the Vorarlberg wind atlas and to fundamentally discussing issues relating to the expansion of wind power in the Alpine region," says Provincial Councillor Daniel Zadra (Greens).

The funding for the project in Brand is part of the state's funding program for wind measurements. "Because wind measurements are cost-intensive, interested parties can apply to the state for funding for wind measurements," explained Zadra. "We support wind measurements with funding amounting to 50 percent of the costs with a maximum funding amount of 50,000 euros." These subsidies apply to large wind turbines, the turbine must not be located in a nature reserve and the municipality must approve the measurement in the form of a municipal council resolution.

Closing the winter gap
For Provincial Councillor Zadra, wind power can make a particularly useful contribution to the energy supply in Vorarlberg in winter: "More electricity is consumed in winter. And it is precisely at this time of year that the wind delivers higher yields. This means that the winter electricity shortfall can be reduced - at least to a limited extent".