Canton Zürich Scales Back Wind Energy Ambitions
The canton of Zürich looks set to build significantly fewer wind turbines than originally planned. According to reporting by the Tages-Anzeiger, the cantonal government has removed 15 potential wind energy zones from its structural plan (Richtplan), leaving just 19 sites still under consideration, a reduction of roughly 40 percent of the canton's originally intended wind power capacity.
Aviation Conflicts Cited
The government cited conflicts with civil and military aviation as the primary reason for the cuts — including interference with flight routes and radar installations. The 15 dropped zones, which had previously been listed as secondary candidates, were found to cause conflicts with both military and civilian airspace use.
The decision is particularly striking given that the cantonal Building Directorate (Baudirektion), led by Green councillor Martin Neukom, had previously classified those same 15 zones as viable. While acknowledging that further assessment was needed, Neukom's department had concluded that the aviation conflicts were solvable in the medium to long term — for instance, through technical modifications to the turbines or radar systems. At an earlier presentation, Neukom had stated that the conflict with aviation could likely be resolved in the foreseeable future, either through technical adjustments to aviation infrastructure or to the wind turbines themselves.
A 2024 report by the Federal Office for Spatial Development reportedly reached a similar conclusion, finding that wind installations in those areas could be realised subject to further investigation.
Decision-Making Behind Closed Doors
Why the full cantonal government ultimately decided otherwise remains unclear. According to the Tages-Anzeiger, the government spokesperson cited cabinet confidentiality (Sitzungsgeheimnis) and declined to elaborate.
Even Neukom's own party, the Greens, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome, criticising in particular the exclusion of the Pfannenstiel area, where they believe significant wind potential has been left unexploited.
What Remains
Of the 19 remaining sites, the canton estimates that around 60 wind turbines could be installed in total, capable of generating approximately 520 gigawatt-hours of electricity per year — equivalent to about 7 percent of the canton's total power consumption. Wind energy is seen as a strategically important complement to solar power, as roughly two thirds of wind generation falls in the winter months, helping offset the reduced output of photovoltaic and hydropower during the cold season.
Growing Local Resistance
Opposition to wind turbines has been mounting across several Zürich municipalities, particularly in the regions around Winterthur and the Weinland, where communities have objected to what they see as an uneven distribution of planned installations. Citizen groups and municipal councils have pushed for minimum distance rules between turbines and residential properties, with some calling for distances of 700 to 1,000 metres — requirements that would, in practice, make construction nearly impossible in many locations.
Parliament Has Final Say
The cantonal government's revised proposal has now been forwarded to the Zürich Kantonsrat (cantonal parliament), which will make the final decision on which wind energy zones are formally included in the structural plan. That vote is expected later this year.
