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.
Above all, this positive development should be taken into account, said Bärbel Heidebroek, President of the German Wind Energy Association. There is a lot of potential for expansion.
Problems complicate 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 erected 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.
South must catch up
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. “The bottleneck is still the area.”
Away from targets
At the end of the first half of the year, a total of 28,611 wind turbines with a total output of 61.9 gigawatts were installed nationwide. The federal government’s goal is a total output of 115 gigawatts by 2030. According to industry sources, the current expansion is falling short of requirements. In order to achieve the necessary expansion, approvals would have to be turned into implemented projects. Even if decisions by the federal government, for example to shorten planning and approval procedures, have an effect, further political measures are necessary.
The industry had forecast an increase of 4 gigawatts for the whole of 2024. In order to achieve this, we need to step up our game, said Dennis Rendschmidt, Managing Director of VDMA Power Systems. Looking at the figures for the first half of the year, he spoke of both light and shade.
Faster transport
Approval procedures for large-volume and heavy transports must be simplified and accelerated, said Rendschmidt. “In order to get the components of the wind turbines to the construction sites as smoothly as possible, uniform national rules are needed.”
Uncertainty about further funding
There is to be a system change in the expansion of renewable energy from wind and solar. The federal government is planning to switch to investment cost subsidies, as stated in the “growth initiative”. Up to now, onshore wind power has been subject to tenders, with operators applying for a subsidy level – instead of receiving a legally stipulated feed-in tariff as before. Heidebroek said that a complete change in the subsidy system threatens to unsettle the industry and could hold back investments.
Financial participation of municipalities
According to the Renewable Energy Sources Act, operators of wind turbines are required to offer financial participation to the local communities. This is a voluntary arrangement. Communities can then benefit directly from the electricity generated by wind turbines in their immediate vicinity. As the Federal Association of Energy and Water Industries announced, wind farm operators, including EWE, EnBW and Enertrag, have committed to financial participation by local communities. Depending on the location, a sum of 20,000 to 30,000 euros per year per wind turbine can be expected, which will be paid out to the surrounding communities. The communities could invest this additional income in important local projects.
BDEW Managing Director Kerstin Andreae called the commitment an important step to strengthen sustainable development in rural areas and at the same time further promote acceptance and support for onshore wind energy projects.
Source: Stern
