Renewable Energy - Newspaper: Wind energy expansion stalled in first half-year
Lower Saxony built less wind energy on land in the first half of the year compared to the previous year's period. The increase in capacity was 50 percent less, according to the newspapers of the German Press Agency (Saturday). The wind power capacity grew by 133 Megawatts in the first six months.
At the beginning of the year, 53 new installations with a total capacity of 296 Megawatts were built. However, wind turbines were also shut down. "We will not reach the expansion target of 1,500 Megawatts in Lower Saxony this year," said the managing director of the Renewable Energy Association, Silke Weyberg, to the newspapers.
One reason for the stalled expansion was the closure of the Autobahn 27, which prevented the delivery of rotor blades from April onwards, according to the newspapers. In addition, it was often too windy for the installation of rotor blades.
According to the information, there are currently 6,103 wind turbines with a total capacity of around 12,700 Megawatts installed in Lower Saxony. The state government wants to increase this value in the coming years to more than 30,000 Megawatts. Therefore, the municipalities should make a total of 2.2 percent of the state area available for wind energy by the end of 2026.
- Despite the challenges, Lower Saxony aims to increase its reliance on wind energy, with the state government planning to install more than 30,000 Megawatts of wind energy capacity by 2026.
- In Hannover, a renowned city in Lower Saxony, there have been discussions about constructing a large-scale windmill as a symbol of the region's commitment to renewable energy.
- The stalled expansion of wind energy in Lower Saxony could impact Germany's overall renewable energy goals, as the country aims to derive 80% of its power from renewable sources by 2050, a significant part of which will come from wind energy.
- The Renewable Energy Association is advocating for the removal of barriers that hinder wind energy expansion, such as the closure of major roads like the Autobahn 27, which affected the delivery of rotor blades.
- Renewable Energy Association's managing director, Silke Weyberg, has pointed out that 'building' more wind energy installations is crucial for Lower Saxony to meet its renewable energy targets, emphasizing the importance of 'wind energy expansion' in the region.
