Renewable energy: Record for wind power - but is expansion in danger?

Baden-Württemberg is experiencing a record expansion of wind energy, with 33 new wind turbines connected to the grid in the first half of the year alone. This figure surpasses the total of 40 turbines installed throughout the previous year. The newly commissioned capacity of 169 megawatts (MW) matches the record levels seen in 2016 and 2017. With a further 480 MW of capacity approved, the state is on track for an all-time record, likely exceeding the 660 MW target set for the end of 2025.

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The trend in wind energy will only continue as long as planning security is guaranteed.

However, this progress is shadowed by growing concerns about the future pace of development. Andreas Schwarz, the Green Party's parliamentary group leader in the state parliament, warned that the current momentum hinges on planning security. He criticized federal government policies, stating they are hindering wind power expansion, particularly in southern Germany. A proposed amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act could eliminate compensatory payments for wind power operators, a move Schwarz believes would significantly dampen the sector's growth. "We cannot afford these uncertainties if we want independence," he asserted, linking energy security to climate action amidst Europe's struggles with climate change impacts like wildfires and water scarcity.

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We are currently seeing the federal government putting sand in the gears for the expansion of wind power, especially in the south.

Environment Minister Thekla Walker affirmed that Baden-Württemberg is on course with its climate goals, citing the significant capacity approved and planned. Currently, 1,771 wind energy facilities with a combined capacity of 11,005 MW are in various planning stages, though most are still undergoing approval processes. Walker's assessment suggests that with the planned projects and the 850 operational wind turbines, the state is adhering to its expansion trajectory.

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This would noticeably take the wind out of the sails of wind power expansion.

Despite these positive developments, experts argue that the expansion must accelerate considerably to meet climate targets. A recent study indicates that approximately 1,400 wind turbines will be necessary by 2030 for Baden-Württemberg to achieve its climate protection objectives, aiming for climate neutrality by 2040. In contrast, the expansion of solar energy has been more consistent, with 851 megawatt-peak (MWp) of photovoltaic capacity added in the first half of the year, a figure that has not shown the same extraordinary growth as wind power.

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We cannot afford these uncertainties if we want independence.