Problem child wind power: expansion in Germany is sluggish

Created: 05/02/2022, 14:14

The expansion of wind energy in Germany is progressing slowly.

The government demands the use of available land for the construction of wind turbines.

Berlin ‒ Another setback in terms of the energy transition in Germany: While the federal government is trying to break free of its economic dependence on Russian energy imports against the background of the war in Ukraine, the expansion of wind power is still progressing slowly.

The majority of the federal states are miles behind the targets in spring 2022.

According to the federal government, two percent of the state area should be designated for the construction of wind turbines.

Only three countries come close to this goal.

Schleswig-Holstein leads the way with around two percent, followed by Hesse (1.9) and Saarland (1.82).

At the bottom are Saxony (0.3 percent) and Baden-Württemberg (0.2), as reported by hna.de.

Expansion of wind power in Germany: major differences between the federal states

Larger differences were also found in the city-states, despite the fact that the starting point was significantly different in terms of available space.

While Bremen still has around 1.0 percent, Hamburg has only 0.23 percent of the area designated for wind energy.

In the Land Use Plan of the State of Berlin, there are no explicitly designated areas for wind energy.

Wind turbines turn on the North Sea coast off Sylt.

The federal government wants to promote the expansion of wind energy.

(symbol image) © picture alliance/dpa

Meanwhile, the majority of the states are bobbing between the extreme values: These include Brandenburg (1.4 percent), densely populated North Rhine-Westphalia (1.2 percent), Saxony-Anhalt (1.08 percent), Rhineland-Palatinate (1.01) and Thuringia (0.4).

Interesting: Bavaria, the largest federal state in terms of area, which has been heavily criticized for its strict 10H distance rule, still comes in at 0.69 percent.

Lower Saxony pointed out that 2.1 percent would be reached by 2030.

The expansion of green electricity from wind and sun is one of the central goals of the traffic light government in the federal government in order to achieve climate goals and become less dependent on fossil energies such as Russian gas.

By 2035, almost 100 percent of the electricity in Germany should come from renewable sources

According to plans by Federal Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck (Greens), 80 percent of the electricity should come from renewable sources by 2030, and by 2035 it should be almost 100 percent.

In 2021, according to industry information, it was around 42 percent.

The Federal Ministry of Economics sees the lack of availability of land as a problem for the expansion of wind power on land.

The previous planning of the federal states was far from sufficient, it said in January in an "opening balance sheet" by Habeck.

By the end of 2020, only around 0.8 percent of the total area would have been designated nationwide, but only around 0.5 percent of that would actually be available for use ‒ since, among other things, minimum distances in a number of federal states and legal obstacles to approval significantly reduce the potential.

"In order to make progress here, we will enshrine the goal of two percent of the state's land area for onshore wind energy in law," says the Federal Ministry.

After energy prices have been rising massively for weeks as a result of the war in Ukraine, many critics of wind power - for example from business - have changed their opinions.

Disputes between residents, environmentalists and investors are slowing down the construction of wind turbines

The construction of wind turbines is repeatedly slowed down in many places by protests and disputes between residents, environmentalists and investors.

In order to increase acceptance among the population, there are sometimes strict requirements such as distance rules and other requirements - for example for the shadows cast by the rotors or the protection of animals.

Olaf Lies (SPD), Minister of Economic Affairs in Lower Saxony, calls for locational advantages for federal states that promote the expansion of wind energy.

© Moritz Frankenberg/dpa

However, this has ensured that the expansion has stalled in many places in recent years.

In Bavaria, where the so-called 10H rule specifies ten times the distance between the height of the wind turbine and the next building, it has practically come to a standstill.

In the past week, however, new movement came into the debate: After the CSU defended the controversial 10H rule against all criticism for many years, it is now open to softening.

For example, construction on motorways or in commercial areas should be made significantly easier.

Economics Minister Habeck wants to promote the expansion of wind turbines

In the past few weeks, Habeck has repeatedly spoken out in favor of pushing the construction of climate-friendly wind turbines everywhere.

It is unclear how exactly the two percent target will be anchored and whether the federal government will overturn strict distance rules like in Bavaria via a federal law.

Regulations on faster planning and approval procedures are also expected.

According to the Hessian Ministry of Economics, Hessen expects that the announced simplifications in planning and approval will allow so-called priority areas to be built on with wind turbines more quickly.

Also in the debate is a distribution key.

A spokesman for the NRW Ministry of Economics and Energy said that such a system would have to take into account the different possibilities of the countries with regard to the natural conditions, wind speeds, the terrain relief and in particular the population density.

Regardless of the debate about the designation of building areas, a discussion about energy prices has flared up among the countries.

Expansion of wind power could be beneficial for industrial sites

Lower Saxony's Energy Minister Olaf Lies (SPD) wants location advantages for federal states that do more to expand wind power.

That could mean that electricity would cost less in the north than in the south - attractive for company settlements.

"The federal government must create a balance between the states in Germany that bear a high degree of responsibility and the others that do not do so to the same extent."

If the energy doesn't come to you, come to us in Lower Saxony.

Lower Saxony's Energy Minister Olaf Lies

Companies that use the electricity at the point where it arrives could then be relieved.

"Almost ten years ago we said: if the energy doesn't come to you, come to us." Lower Saxony stands by its responsibility, said Lies.

Expansion of wind power: Lower Saxony demands location advantages

“Today we have twelve gigawatts of installed capacity.

We want to achieve 30 gigawatts of installed capacity.” This means that the two percent target will be achieved.

“We in Lower Saxony are ready to take on responsibility for the whole of Germany.

But this responsibility must be taken on in all federal states.”

That also applies to Bavaria or Baden-Württemberg.

They would have to expand wind power with the same speed and vigour, and meet the two percent target.

"Otherwise a financial equalization mechanism will have to take effect." The responsibility for the expansion should not just be pushed to the north.

The southern federal states, especially Bavaria, which is economically particularly strong, warn of the possible dangers of unequal treatment.

The city-states demanded a special regulation, since the designation of areas is particularly difficult here due to the very limited space.

(rdg/dpa)

Federal government: Wind energy should become mandatory

Lower Saxony is the federal state with the most wind turbines in Germany.

In order to speed up the expansion of renewable energies, the Federal Government wants two percent of the country's area to be designated for onshore wind energy in the future.

That should be enshrined in law.

However, most countries are still a long way from this goal.

Recently, southern Germany has repeatedly said that there shouldn't be any locational disadvantages due to higher energy costs.

Bavaria has repeatedly accused the federal government of an energy policy that favors the north.

(dpa)

The current crisis in Eastern Europe also has a significant impact on the Lower Saxony economy.

In order to become less dependent on energy imports from Russia in the future, a terminal for liquid gas is to be built in Stade near Hamburg.

The Dutch company One-Dyas wants to produce gas in the North Sea near Borkum in the future, and conservationists warn of the risks for the Wadden Sea.