Approval backlog and competition cannot slow down Monja Janssen and Matthias Namgalies. They are planning new projects for renewable energy generation in the north. However, suitable land is scarce and the competition is tough. Fortunately, colleagues can rely on the special teamwork during the sometimes tedious work.
Monja Janssen will be able to explore a nice success of her work on foot during her lunch break soon: About a kilometre away from her workplace at the Prokon headquarters in Itzehoe, construction of the Ottenbüttel-Westermühlen wind farm began in May. "It's great that we managed to secure this site so close by," says the team assistant of the North-West project development, "even though we faced a lot of opposition here too."
Her team leader Matthias Namgalies knows how tough the process of planning the installations can be: "The obstacles that are put in the way of expanding wind energy don't make the work any easier," he sighs, "our greatest sense of achievement is when landowners show trust in us by signing and we can erect the installations at the end of a long project development process."
From three locations, the teams for project development and construction secure the future of Prokon. Their work is more challenging than ever today. The politics hesitates to create reasonable framework conditions, excessive distance rules, and partially lack of acceptance by residents hinder the planning of new facilities. Suitable areas, especially for wind parks, are becoming scarce in Germany – several competitors usually fight for the few good locations.
The existing backlog of approvals has been worsened by the Corona crisis as politics and administration were in shutdown. This also hindered the daily work of Matthias Namgalies. The search, analysis, and especially the leasing of suitable land is the core business of the 36-year-old, who has thoroughly studied his field as a Bachelor of Environmental Sciences and a Master in Renewable Energies. In the crisis weeks, the Hamburg-based professional has worked a lot from home: "We mainly used the time for analysis, to identify new areas and to contact the landowners."
However, personal contact is crucial in negotiations, so now it's time to go out again for meetings and discussions. Then Team Assistant Monja Janssen holds the fort. She has been with the company for 20 years and knows her way around. "I just know how Prokon operates and thanks to my experience, I can deliver quickly." The 45-year-old works congenially with Team Leader Namgalies: "The chemistry is right, and he knows he can rely on me." Matthias Namgalies also appreciates the specific Prokon atmosphere: "The togetherness here is particularly nice." What he likes the most: Many idealists work here – and that's a lovely thing if you are one yourself.
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