natural reserve
Nabu criticizes the lack of species protection in wind power expansion
The rotors of wind turbines turn after sunset in Bützow (Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania). photo
© Jens Büttner/dpa
The goals for the expansion of renewable energies can only be achieved with speedy approvals for construction projects. From the point of view of conservationists, the traffic light makes too many compromises in species protection.
The Nature Conservation Union (Nabu) sees species protection as not being sufficiently taken into account when expanding wind energy in Germany. “I am very disappointed in Robert Habeck and Steffi Lemke, as Greens they are helping to weaken species protection,” said Nature Conservation Union President Jörg-Andreas Krüger of the “Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung” with a view to the climate protection and environment ministers. “But of course you also have to acknowledge that they govern in a coalition with the SPD and FDP. And they currently have no interest in species protection at all, their motto instead seems to be: Accelerate planning, no matter what the cost.”
The onshore wind power capacity alone is expected to double from 58 gigawatts in 2022 to 115 gigawatts by 2030. However, the planning, approval and construction of a wind turbine currently takes an average of five to seven years. At the end of January, the Federal Cabinet initiated the implementation of new EU rules. This should often eliminate the need for wind turbines to be tested for environmental compatibility and species protection for individual systems. Habeck spoke of a “wind expansion accelerator” that would bring decisive progress in the speed of approval procedures. According to the Economics Minister, species protection should not be neglected – the operators of the plants should ensure compliance.
Played off against each other?
“Nature conservation and climate change are being played off against each other, and natural and energy crises are contrasted,” criticizes Krüger. “It is undisputed that the extinction of species is just as existential a threat to humanity as climate change.”
The President of the German Chamber of Industry and Commerce (DIHK), Peter Adrian, on the other hand, with regard to construction projects in general, pleaded for more restraint on the subject of nature conservation and for a faster pace in the approval of projects. “In Germany we have acquired a procedural luxury. The approval processes are often overloaded,” Adrian told the “Bild am Sonntag”. “The procedures for protecting the flora and fauna alone sometimes take years.”
In Germany, many millions of euros are already being spent every year on relocating rare birds and on protective fences for lizards on motorways. “Projects are canceled or extensively replanned because the affected building land could possibly be a nesting area for the hazel grouse. I don’t want to question nature conservation because it is important. But we should remain moderate in everything,” said the DIHK boss. It is also about preserving jobs.
Green electricity as a “location advantage”
Bosch boss Stefan Hartung is hoping for a broad debate on the “Germany pace” proclaimed by Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) for infrastructure projects. “There will have to be a political and social dialogue about it, and it may also be a bit more controversial,” he told the German Press Agency in Stuttgart. It shouldn’t be about “putting a windmill in the neighbor’s garden against his will.” There still has to be a negotiation process as to what is right and wrong as a society.
With regard to the expansion of wind power, the Federal Government Commissioner for Eastern Europe, Carsten Schneider, also referred to possible competitive advantages for eastern Germany. “In the future, companies will be located where the electricity is produced. Green electricity can therefore become a major locational advantage for the East,” said the SPD politician to the Bild am Sonntag (BamS). “Unlike in Bavaria, we didn’t oversleep the expansion of renewable energies.” The “economic map of Germany” is therefore currently being redrawn.