ČEZ offered the Czech town of Ralsko CZK 600 million and other bonuses for a giant wind farm

The partly state-owned ČEZ group has offered the town of Ralsko in the Česká Lípa area a special reward of CZK 600 million and other bonuses for the planned construction of a giant wind farm on a former military training ground. ČEZ PV & Wind plans to build 16 wind turbines in the area, with a capacity of up to 115 megawatts (MW). According to the Novinky.cz news site, the town hall has not informed residents and is preparing an amendment to the zoning plan.

"In terms of financial conditions, Ralsko could receive up to CZK 600 million over 30 years if it cooperates on the project. This amount includes a one-off reward once the zoning plan amendment is completed, the statutory fee for each MWh (megawatt-hour) produced, and a bonus based on the output of the future wind farm," said ČEZ Group spokesperson Martin Schreier.

Ralsko may also receive support from the ČEZ Foundation, which contributes to activities such as nurseries, kindergartens, children's camps, care services, arts groups, cultural events, sewer connections, church renovations, community public spaces, the work of sports clubs, and the operation of public sports facilities. The town, with a population of 2,200, and surrounding municipalities could also benefit from cooperation with the ČEZ Group to develop their energy management in areas such as energy savings, public lighting, cogeneration, photovoltaics, and electromobility.

ČEZ announced in July its plan to build a wind farm in the Ralsko districts of Náhlov and Svébořice. If the plans go ahead, it will be the largest wind farm in the country, both in terms of capacity and turbine height. The turbines are planned to reach a total height of up to 250 meters, with towers up to 166 meters tall and rotor diameters of up to 163 meters. By comparison, the Liberec hotel and transmitter Ještěd is barely 100 meters tall. Each turbine is expected to have a capacity of between 5.56 and 7.2 MW, putting the total installed capacity at between 88.96 and 115.2 megawatts.

The investor must prepare an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the planned wind farm in Ralsko in the Česká Lípa area, the Liberec Regional Authority ruled in early October. According to officials, the project could have a significant impact on the landscape, residents' health, and biodiversity. The investor must also assess its potential impact on protected animal species and cultural heritage sites, as well as on the spa area, and propose alternatives with different numbers and sizes of wind turbines. The authority received nearly 200 comments and three petitions on the plan.

According to the news site, Ralsko submitted only a brief, essentially bare-bones statement on the plan. In February, the town council had also approved a proposal to amend the zoning plan, which is intended to create conditions not only for the construction of giant wind turbines but also for further solar projects. ČEZ already operates five solar power plants in the area, with a total installed capacity of 56 MW, and is preparing to build another with a capacity of around 70 MW. The Liberec Region is also planning a solar power plant with a capacity of up to 80 MW at the former Hradčany military airfield in Ralsko.