Onshore wind power plays a key role in the energy transition. The industry is now presenting figures for the first half of the year – and is focusing on one development in particular.
The expansion of wind energy stalled somewhat in the first half of the year. According to industry figures, 250 new wind turbines with a total output of around 1.3 gigawatts were built nationwide – that was 19 percent less than in the same period last year. However, the number of newly approved wind turbines that have not yet been built rose by 32 percent to 847.
This positive development in particular should be taken into account, said Bärbel Heidebroek, President of the German Wind Energy Association. There is a lot of potential for expansion. Regarding the decline in new construction in the first half of the year, she pointed out that there were incredibly strong winds in April, meaning that cranes could not be set up and there were technical problems on construction sites.
In addition, a closure on the A27 motorway near Cuxhaven caused problems with the transport of rotor blades. Most rotor blades for wind turbines arrive via the port there and are then brought inland.
Heidebroek went on to say that there is still a strong north-south divide in the expansion of onshore wind power. Most of the new plants were built in North Rhine-Westphalia in the first half of the year, followed by Lower Saxony and Schleswig-Holstein. In contrast, states such as Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria only contributed a small share to the expansion. The south must finally catch up and designate areas, said Heidebroek.
Source: Stern
