Number of wind turbines in German state falling amid government鈥檚 expansion push
Mitteldeutsche Zeitung
Despite the German government鈥檚 efforts to increase onshore wind power, in the first half of 2022 by dismantling of the infrastructure in the state Saxony-Anhalt, the Mitteldeutsche Zeitung reports. This is largely due to a lack of available land space for construction, alongside the removal of turbines which are not considered to be in an optimal position, the article says. According to a report by the , 9 new turbines were built in the first half of 2022 in Saxony-Anhalt, with a total capacity of 33.8 megawatts (MW), while 21 old ones with a capacity of 28.3 MW were made redundant and taken down across the country. Felix Langer, office manager of Saxony-Anhalt state鈥檚 Renewable Energy Association, said 鈥渢hings are not moving forward because there is a lack of land to erect the wind turbines鈥�, as well as the fact that official approval procedures are taking very long to complete. However, Langer said the construction of the turbines is 鈥渁 licence to print money鈥�, because of high energy prices meaning the plants would achieve high return rates.
The failed expansion of onshore wind turbines in the eastern state follows the government鈥檚 ambitious announcements to , after it was revealed onshore wind turbines remained at the same levels in 2021 as in 2011. The growth of renewable energy output has become even more crucial in recent months, as it is Germany鈥檚 main projected gateway to energy independence from Russia, amidst uncertainties regarding imports of gas.
