Higher expansion target for wind energy
The expansion target for offshore wind energy is to increase to 20 gigawatts for 2030. This is set out in the draft amendment - to the Offshore Wind Energy Act (Windenergie-auf-See-Gesetz). In addition, the installed output of offshore turbines is to reach a total of 40 gigawatts by 2040.
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Cleverly planned: offshore wind energy
The amendment to the Offshore Wind Energy Act provides for improved synchronisation of network expansion and wind energy expansion. This will reduce the risk of a wind farm not being used due to a delay in its connection to the electricity network.
Well-funded: onshore wind energy
The Federal Government also wants to further accelerate the expansion of onshore wind energy. In order to improve acceptance among local residents, the new distance rule for wind turbines will apply: the federal states (Bundesländer) will be able to stipulate distances according to the 1,000-metre rule in their regional legislation. There will be new financial benefits for local authorities in which wind turbines are built. In future, wind turbines will only flash red at night in exceptional cases so that they are less of a disturbance to local residents. The Federal Government has now implemented all measures relating to this, so the wind energy sector can start modifying its wind turbines. A proposed regulation in the Renewable Energies Act (Erneuerbare-Energien-Gesetz) is currently being agreed within the Federal Government and with the federal states.
The Investment Acceleration Act (Investitionsbeschleunigungsgesetz) is designed to fund the construction of onshore wind turbines. The act shortens planning and approval processes in the infrastructure sector. For certain wind turbines, for example, the delaying effect of opposition and action for rescission will be eliminated.
More on this: renewable energies
By 2030 the Federal Government wants 65 percent of electricity consumption to be attributable to renewable energies. Even now, there are record figures for electricity generation from renewable sources: in 2019, nearly 40 percent of the electricity mix was generated by wind, sun, water or biomass. More than half of this renewable energy, i.e. over 51 percent, was produced by onshore and offshore wind turbines in 2019. Greenhouse gas emissions by the electricity sector in 2019 were reduced by around 159 million tonnes of CO2 - carbon dioxide equivalents through the use of renewable energies. Furthermore, the Federal Government is also investing large sums into research on making green hydrogen, i.e. generated with renewable energies, marketable on an industrial scale.
We will continue this positive development with the step-by-step withdrawal from coal-fired power generation, the expansion of renewable energies and the rise in energy efficiency.