On July 11, 2022, the German parliament accepted "WindLandG," as part of the Easter Package. The Easter Package expects renewables to supply 80% of German energy by 2030 and the country to become net-zero by 2045. For the first half of 2022, renewables accounted for 49% of Germany's power grid, 21% being wind energy. This is an overall increase of 6% compared to the year prior. This is on track to surpass the goal if Germany can continue a 6% increase each year by 2030.
WindLandG is set to double Germany's onshore wind capacity to 115 GW by 2030. The law plans to expand Germany's onshore wind capacity by more than 12 GW between now and 2025. After 2025, the onshore wind capacity should increase by 10 GW each year.
In order to allow for this influx of new wind assets amid today's permitting regulations, German states (Länder) are required to allot 2% of their land for onshore wind projects. WindEurope CEO Giles Dickson praised Germany's ambitious onshore wind goals, stating that "Germany understands you only deliver a big increase in wind if you simplify the permitting."
Adding new wind assets into the power grid is not the only way to increase wind capacity among these limiting European permitting issues. With nearly 30% of wind assets in Germany reaching their 20 year lifespan by 2025, they have began to produce less energy than newer assets. Because of this, repowering wind plants both structurally and technologically has become increasingly important. Adding focus to existing wind farms will allow asset managers, OEMs, owners and operators to work around disruptions in international supply chains, rising energy costs and raw materials while meeting German wind capacity goals.
Interested in increasing the wind energy production for your existing wind plants? Download a Swarm and Find, Fix, Measure ultimate guide, or contact us to see which solution is best for your wind assets.