2023 – A peak year for wind energy expansion in Germany

Volkswind_Egeln_006_(Foto_Andreas_Lander)

The Wind Energy Update 2023 for Germany shows a continuing upward trend, as the Wind Energy Association and VDMA Power Systems announce in their joint press release. Last year, 745 new wind turbines with a total capacity of 3.567 MW were installed in Germany. This corresponds to a gross increase of almost 50 percent compared to the previous year.

The basis for future expansion is solid, as around 7,500 MW of new registrations were recorded. Volkswind has received permits for a total capacity of 52.05 MW in Germany in 2023.

Despite these nationwide successes, however, there are also challenges. The doubling of permits to 6,400 MW shows a positive trend, but is still far from the legal target of 12,840 MW. Politicians must therefore consistently stick to the reform course. In addition, there is still a need for action with regard to the availability of land, approval deadlines and transport.

An optimistic view is directed towards 2024: With the same realisation rate, BWE and VDMA forecast further growth of over 4 GW.

In addition to national developments, the global outlook for wind energy also offers interesting prospects. According to the forecast of the Global Wind Energy Council (GWEC), the world expects an impressive onshore expansion of around 105 GW in 2024. This underlines the global importance and contribution of wind energy to the global energy transition.

Overall, the wind energy industry remains a driving force of the energy transition, both nationally and globally.

The people’s wind will also play a major role in the expansion of wind energy in Germany and Europe in the coming years. In Germany, concessions with a total capacity of around 75 megawatts are expected for 2024.

Flashback: In 1993, the year Volkswind was founded, there were just 1636 wind turbines in Germany. Today, around 30 years later, the number has increased more than twentyfold: from the North Sea to the Alps, 28,677 wind turbines are now in operation, producing environmentally friendly electricity.Agency for Wind Energy (fachagentur-windenergie.de)

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