Expansion by 2030: Scholz plans “four to five wind turbines” a day

Status: 05.02.2023 11:07 a.m

The federal government wants to accelerate the expansion of wind power. On average, “four to five wind turbines” should be added on land every day by 2030, said Chancellor Scholz. Progress should be checked monthly.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz wants to push ahead with the expansion of wind power in Germany. “We’re tackling the expansion with military precision: we’re currently drawing up a timetable of what new plants have to be built by when so that we can achieve our goals for 2030,” he told the “Bild am Sonntag”.

“Every month there will be a discussion with the countries about how far they have progressed. Anything that is not done on time must be made up for. By 2030, there will be an average of four to five wind turbines a day on land.” According to industry information, there are currently more than 28,000 wind turbines on land in Germany with a total output of around 58 gigawatts.

“More momentum in innovation and modernization”

“We need more impetus for innovations and for the modernization of our industry so that we can operate in a climate-neutral manner in 2045,” explained Scholz. The aim is to make significant progress in the expansion of wind power and solar energy “so that we become less dependent on importing fossil gas, coal or oil”.

The federal government’s goal is an installed capacity of 115 gigawatts by 2030. Onshore wind power plays a key role in the energy transition. Last year, the output of wind turbines on land increased only slightly. According to industry information, it rose by 4.3 percent. According to this, 551 plants with an output of 2403 megawatts were newly erected.

Area targets for the expansion are specified with the Wind Energy on Land Act. According to this, by the end of 2032, the federal states must designate two percent of the area for wind energy. So far, according to the Federal Ministry of Economics, it has been 0.8 percent.

Many fears not confirmed

In view of the war in Ukraine, inflation and the energy crisis, Scholz said: “Our country has come through this difficult time much better than many feared.” He recalled the fears that had been read – such as a “winter of rage with mass protests” and cold apartments and freezing people in Germany. “None of that happened.” If nothing unforeseen happens, he is optimistic about next winter, said the Chancellor.

Scholz wants speed with wind and solar power

Vera Wolfskkampf, ARD Berlin, February 5, 2023 at 10:36 a.m

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