In June 2026, the Schwerin public prosecutor’s office charged a man on suspicion of fraud and forgery. He is said to have presented Prokon with area contracts for a wind farm and other energy projects around Neubrandenburg. However, several property owners disputed the contracts and their signatures. Prokon discovered the discrepancies through direct checks and therefore filed a report. The indictment includes 51 alleged acts, while a civil court has already awarded the company 764,210.92 euros.
Land-use contract fraud: Owners unaware of projects
The accused allegedly claimed to have secured land exclusively for wind power and solar projects. Such contracts hold significant economic value because project developers require suitable sites at an early stage. Consequently, Prokon reportedly paid a six-figure sum. The company initially assumed that the submitted agreements had originated from the named owners.
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Later, employees contacted several landowners and compared their statements with the company’s records. However, the owners stated that they had not entered into any such agreements. Furthermore, some were unaware of the allegedly planned energy projects. The potential fraud only came to light when Prokon independently verified the contract details.
Public Prosecutor’s Office Cites 51 Alleged Offenses
The public prosecutor’s office has charged the defendant with fraud and document forgery in numerous instances. However, the Waren District Court has yet to decide whether to initiate main proceedings; a public trial can only begin after such a decision is made. Consequently, the presumption of innocence applies until a final conviction is reached.
In parallel, Prokon sought to recover the paid funds through civil litigation. However, the defendant failed to appear for the hearing at the Neubrandenburg Regional Court. The court subsequently issued a default judgment for €764,210.92. This judgment is legally binding, whereas the criminal proceedings remain legally separate.
Land-Use Agreements Form the Basis for New Wind Farms
Project developers usually secure land rights long before the permitting process begins. Without reliable usage rights, they cannot definitively plan turbine sites, access roads, or cable routes. In return, landowners often receive reservation fees or future lease payments. These agreements therefore play a crucial role in determining the value of a planned wind farm.
However, the early project phase often remains confidential. Developers do not wish to prematurely disclose potential sites to competitors, and landowners rarely make the contents of contracts or agreed payments public. This lack of transparency facilitates manipulation, particularly if companies fail to directly verify information provided by external intermediaries.
Direct verification can prevent significant losses
Companies can verify signatures, ownership status, and powers of attorney prior to making any payments. They should also contact owners directly using known contact details. Furthermore, digital signature methods and documented identity checks make it more difficult to use forged documents. While such checks require effort, they prevent far greater financial losses.
This case illustrates how fraud during the land-securing phase can jeopardize entire energy projects. Forged contracts delay planning and tie up both personnel and capital. In addition to potential demands for the return of funds, affected companies often incur extra legal and auditing costs. Project developers should therefore verify intermediaries, documents, and property rights independently of one another.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: Ostsee Zeitung (15.06.26) – Walsroder Zeitung (15.06.26) – Clean Thinking (15.06.26) – Hannoversche Allgemeine (14.06.26)