Leckmart – In mid-July 2026, the districts of Hochsauerlandkreis and Olpe confirmed the presence of impermissible noise emissions at the Herrscheid wind farm. Technical faults there repeatedly caused turbine noise characterized by thumping, braking, and humming sounds. However, local residents report clearly hearing the four turbines even during normal operation. An independent acceptance measurement is lacking, meaning the extent of the continuous noise impact on nearby homes remains undetermined.
Wind turbine noise confirmed as caused by technical defects
Both authorities clearly distinguish between technical malfunctions and authorized standard operation. Olpe District states that the noise was “not permitted under the approval and was therefore impermissible.” The Hochsauerland district also notes: “Due to the defect, the wind turbines were obviously too loud.” According to the district, the operator does not dispute this assessment either.
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ABO Energy attributes the wind turbine noise to the brakes on the yaw motors. These motors align the nacelle and rotor with the prevailing wind direction. The tower also amplified the noise due to reverberation within its interior. A service visit resolved the last known defect. However, according to ABO Energy, a complete shutdown would have done little to prevent the noise.
Regular operation continues without independent acceptance testing
The situation regarding normal operation, however, remains unresolved. The HSK states: “To date, the HSK has not detected any exceedance of the guideline values during the regular operation of the wind turbines.” Nevertheless, an independent acceptance measurement has not yet taken place. Consequently, conclusive evidence regarding the actual noise impact is lacking.
In contrast, residents of Leckmart report that the turbines are clearly audible even when there are no obvious malfunctions. They describe thumping, braking, and humming sounds, as well as persistent disturbance. The complaints therefore go beyond isolated technical failures. However, without independent measurement data, these accounts can neither be confirmed nor ruled out.
District Government Finds No Fault with Authorities
According to its own account, the HSK (Hochsauerlandkreis) initially conducts a preliminary measurement in response to complaints. If this indicates potential exceedances of guideline values, further steps follow. However, this procedure does not yet provide conclusive proof regarding wind turbine noise during standard operation. Upon reviewing a complaint from a local resident, the district government found no fault with the administrative actions taken to date.
The Herrscheid wind farm comprises four turbines, each with a capacity of 5.5 megawatts. According to ABO Energy, the facility concluded its trial operation at the end of March 2025. The project developer estimates the annual output is sufficient to meet the consumption needs of approximately 18,000 households. However, this level of output does not alter the obligation to comply with permitted noise limits. For local residents, therefore, the timing of the independent acceptance measurement remains a crucial factor.
Author: Blackout News
Sources: Westfalenpost (17.07.26) – ABOEnergy (Stand: 18.07.26)