Tenders for new wind energy projects in Germany “have fallen to a new, all-time low”, the online IWR reports here.
After the installation of thousands of megawatts of German wind power capacity led to instability in the power grid, exploding electricity prices and the destruction of natural landscapes and biotopes, protests against wind projects ratcheted up to the point where the government was forced to scale back on subsidies two years ago. The result: investments in wind parks, once seen as the future of Germany’s energy supply, have since collapsed.
The IWR writes: ”
The negative trend in the construction of new wind turbines in Germany, which has persisted for more than a year, is thus intensifying.”
And: “A short- or medium-term change is not to be expected,” the IWR reports.
As of September 1, 2019, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has put out to tender 500 megawatts (MW) of wind power capacity, but so far “only 176 MW could be awarded in permissible bids”.
The grinding halt in wind energy by Germany flies in the face of the country’s commitment to transition over to green energies by 2050. Already experts say Germany will fail to meet its 2020 comitments.
Following the solar energy industry to the graveyard
IWR Director Dr. Norbert Allnoch said: “Politicians are frivolously jeopardizing the economic location of another future-oriented industry, as they did years ago with the solar industry.”
Will the “restart” be enough?
The wind industry is now placing its hopes on a “restart” on green energy investment announced by finance minister Olaf Scholz in his opening speech that kicked off debate in parliament on national spending in 2020. “More of the same will no longer help us,” Scholz said on the German government’s strategy to push climate-friendly activities through support programs and tax rebates.
Climate cabinet to roll out new measures
Major decisions on green energy programs and investments are expected to be announced by the country’s “climate cabinet” on 20 September 20th, but details on wind energy expansion plans remain vague. Currently onshore wind park projects face fierce opposition from hundreds of citizen protest groups and traditional environmentalists who believe the destruction of the German landscape is not an ecological price worth paying
On other fronts, Scholz foresees a pricing system for CO2 and that any measure would need to be financially designed “in a way that works for citizens”.
“We failed to take the necessary decisions in the past decades. There is now no more time to waste,” Scholz said.