The German wind industry takes a breather
2016/2/26 9:53:22
The figures for onshore wind in Germany showed a downturn in the first six months of this year. Despite this, the trade associations predict a net additional installation for the whole of 2015 of at least 4,000 megawatts, which would make climate change goals achievable. The manufac-turers are, however, burdened by a boom and bust market situation, and want the politicians to implement a long term system that will guar-antee continuous future expansion.
In the first half of 2015 the additional net wind energy capacity installed in Germany was around 1,093 megawatts. This is about a third (34 per cent) less than in the same period last year, when the industry achieved a record figure of 1,659 megawatts. This still makes the first half of 2015 the second-best in the history of wind energy in Germany. If one includes the capacity of the turbines dismantled and replaced in the first six months, then the gross capacity increase was 1,185 megawatts.
VDMA Power Systems expects a strong second half in 2015. By the end of the year it estimates an annual net increase of 4,000 to 4,500 mega-watts capacity and therefore a total onshore wind capacity of at least 42,000 megawatts. However, the German Wind Energy Association sees three crucial restrictions that are likely in 2016. First is the degression anchored in the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG), which kicks in as of 1 January 2016, second is the forthcoming non-remuneration if lasting nega-tive electricity prices create uncertainty about the future and, thirdly, the level of interest rates is picking up again.
As Hermann Albers, president of the German Wind Energy Association, emphasises, ‘The transformation in the electricity market is forg-ing ahead. Cost-efficient wind energy still has great resources. Like the further expansion of bioenergy and solar energy, it is essential if we are to achieve the goals of the shift to renewable energy usage. It is also necessary to focus more sharply on the mobility and heat sectors, which to date have been treated more as poor relations.
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