The present invention is related to a method for controlling a wind energy plant with plural control units, which perform control tasks in the wind energy plant, comprising the following steps: a) one priority at a time is assigned to the control units, depending on the control tasks they must perform, b) during the operation of the wind energy plant, the control units communicate continuously with each other and/or with a central communication unit, c) in case that there is a failure of a first control unit of the wind energy plant, a second control unit of the wind energy plant takes over the control tasks of the defective control unit, wherein the second control unit is selected depending on the priority assigned thereto and has the same as or a lower priority than the defective control unit.