According to the Bank’s website, the project concerns the implementation and operation of a 62,8 MW wind farm in Spannberg / Lower Austria. The main goal is to reduce carbon and air pollution emissions, which are externalities that the market fails to address. The wind farm will also foster the integration of new, variable renewable generation technologies in the market.

Therefore, the EIB's loan will fill the unmet demand of projects developing new renewable capacity, including those with market-exposed structures and instruments.

The project comprises the implementation and operation of a wind farm in Lower Austria consisting of up to 11 wind turbines, including the civil infrastructure and the underground cable connections to substations owned and operated by the grid operator. The turbines’ rotor diameter is 162 m, two of the turbines have a hub height of 166 m, the other nine are installed at 148 m hub height. The project is implemented in two phases; in the first phase four wind turbines are installed and connected via a 22 km underground cable (30 kV) to an existing electricity substation.

The new substation is located at about 4 km to the nearest wind turbine. It will connect to an existing transmission line in its vicinity.

The project site is located in a slightly undulating landscape, characterised by intensive agricultural use and scattered spots of forested area. Based on the findings of a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) conducted, the area was identified and dedicated as a zone suitable for wind power development (“Grünland Windkraftanlage”) in the spatial development plan of the federal state of Lower Austria. Further wind farms are already operating in the close surroundings; additionally, some oil and gas drilling installations are located near the area.

The promoter’s EIA Report addresses all relevant risks (including biodiversity, noise, shadow flickering, soil, hydrology, forest, ice fall, visual impacts) through specific expert studies. The studies concludes that the project’s negative impact is either negligible or low. Only for few aspects the negative impact was classified as medium and mitigation measures were proposed, mainly concerning, shadow flicker and noise emission of certain turbines as well as the impact on protected bat species.

The project is not located within a Natura 2000 site or other areas protected under national or international legislation. The closest Natura 2000 sites are the March-Thaya-Auen (wetlands) under the Habitats Directive as well as under the Birds Directive (SAC AT1202000 and SPA AT1202V00) at 6,1 km minimum distance from the WF. "Pannonische Sanddünen" (SAC AT1213000) is at 6,4 km from the closest turbine.

WEB Windenergie AG is an energy transition company based in Waldviertel, Austria, with locations in eight different countries on two continents.

No contacts available at the time of disclosure.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

You can submit an information request for project information at: https://www.eib.org/en/infocentre/registers/request-form/request-form-default.htm

ACCOUNTABILITY MECHANISM OF EIB

The EIB Complaints Mechanism is designed to facilitate and handle complaints against the EIB by individuals, organizations or corporations affected by EIB activities. When exercising the right to lodge a complaint against the EIB, any member of the public has access to a two-tier procedure, one internal - the Complaints Mechanism Office - and one external - the European Ombudsman. A complaint can be lodged via a written communication addressed to the Secretary General of the EIB, via email to the dedicated email address: complaints@eib.org, by completing the online complaint form available at the following address: http://www.eib.org/complaints/form via fax or delivered directly to the EIB Complaints Mechanism Division, any EIB local representation office or any EIB staff. For further details, check: http://www.eib.org/attachments/strategies/complaints_mechanism_policy_en.pdf

When dissatisfied with a complaint to the EIB Complaints Mechanism, citizens can then turn towards the European Ombudsman. A memorandum of Understanding has been signed between the EIB and the European Ombudsman establishes that citizens (even outside of the EU if the Ombudsman finds their complaint justified) can turn towards the Ombudsman on issues related to 'maladministration' by the EIB. Note that before going to the Ombudsman, an attempt must be made to resolve the case by contacting the EIB. In addition, the complaint must be made within two years of the date when the facts on which your complaint is based became known to you. You can write to the Ombudsman in any of the languages of the European Union. Additional details, including filing requirements and complaint forms, are available at: http://www.ombudsman.europa.eu/atyourservice/interactiveguide.faces