In Dresden, the dispute over new wind farm areas is intensifying because the Regional Planning Association has designated priority areas in Rossendorf, the Dresden Heath, and the Schönfeld Highlands. Rossendorf is particularly contentious, as the planned wind farms extend directly to the campus of the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR) and in some cases even onto its grounds. The resistance stems from an expert report commissioned by the research center, which warns of infrasound. According to the technical director, Dirk Reichelt, this could disrupt highly sensitive measuring instruments. The HZDR has therefore already objected to the construction on its own campus. For the site, the issue is not only about land use but also about potential restrictions on research operations. (tag24: 11.03.26)
Infrasound threatens measuring instruments and research processes
The central problem lies not in the visible structure of the turbines, but in their vibrations. Wind turbines generate low-frequency waves that people are usually unaware of. For research technology, however, it is not audibility that matters, but the physical effect. Even small disturbances can distort measurement results.
The Helmholtz Centre sees this as the greatest danger. According to Dirk Reichelt, it has been determined that infrasound could “impair the functionality of some of the highly sensitive measuring instruments.” This statement precisely describes the core of the conflict. Research facilities require stable conditions, while low-frequency vibrations attack precisely this stability. Therefore, the debate in Rossendorf is not abstract, but rather concerns the ongoing operation of a vital scientific site.
Precision research needs peace and quiet, not constant disturbances
At the Rossendorf site, researchers work with systems that detect the smallest physical changes. Such systems are extremely sensitive, while external influences often go unnoticed. This is precisely what makes the situation so precarious. What seems harmless in everyday life can have significant consequences in the laboratory.
If infrasound continuously affects sensitive technology, accuracy suffers first. Then, the effort required for checks, repetitions, and safety measures increases. Furthermore, test series become longer because deviations must be investigated. For a center with international aspirations, this poses a serious risk. What is particularly critical is that measuring instruments don’t have to fail spectacularly to be damaged. Even gradual malfunctions can significantly hinder research.
The proximity of the wind turbines makes Rossendorf a special case
Therefore, the location of the planned wind turbines is crucial. The HZDR’s criticism is not directed against wind power in principle, but against turbines located directly on or even within the campus. This proximity exacerbates the problem because vibrations cannot simply be shielded. The assessment would be different with greater distance.
Added to this is the political pressure surrounding the expansion of wind energy. The planning authority must secure land, while affected institutions point to their specific requirements. In Rossendorf, two public interests are thus clashing. On the one hand, there is the issue of renewable energies, and on the other, the protection of a high-tech location. If the needs of research are neglected here, permanent restrictions are likely.
Rossendorf Demonstrates the Limits of Blanket Land Use Planning
This case clearly illustrates that not every area can be treated equally. A research center with sensitive measuring equipment is not an ordinary location. This is precisely the difference compared to other priority areas. Where precision determines the success of experiments, low-frequency vibrations can become a disqualifying factor.
Therefore, the conflict extends beyond Dresden. Rossendorf serves as a prime example of how quickly blanket land use planning reaches its limits. If wind turbines are built too close to sensitive research facilities, it is not just a single institute that suffers. The site also loses efficiency if results become unreliable or can only be obtained with greater effort. The real question, therefore, is not whether wind power is needed, but whether Rossendorf is even suitable for such installations.