Lots more wind turbines to come

#CapturingChange 46

What is the most significant visible change in Germany in recent years?  Without a doubt, wind turbines. There are now almost 30,000 onshore wind turbines in Germany.

I see them all the time, too (I took the picture above on a drizzling day last weekend in the region of Uckermark). What are the facts behind the obviousness? Today some key figures about wind energy in Europe. 

More than 70 per cent of the total worldwide electricity-generating wind turbines have been installed in Europe. 

As one result, the share of renewable energy in final energy consumption in the European Union increased to 22.2 per cent in 2021, with wind installations generating a good third of all renewable energies.

It shouldn't remain there. The tough goal of the EU: At least 40 per cent of the overall energy mix has to be renewable energy sources by 2030.

Wind power would probably have to be expanded much faster than it is currently. “The EU need to build 32 GW a year in order to meet the EU’s new 40 per cent renewable energy target,” says the lobby association Wind Europe. But it was only 17 GW of new wind capacity in 2021, and 18 GW of new wind farms is expected on average between 2022 and 2026, according to Wind Europe. (Here is what and how much power one GW (gigawatt) is.)

So it could get tight with EU’s 2030 target. 

In any case, we will see many new wind turbines in the years to come. Especially in Germany. Wind Europe again: “Germany will be Europe’s largest wind market thanks to the strong expected performance of its onshore market over the next five years (19.7 GW) and rising offshore installations (5.4 GW).”

Onwards,

Johannes Eber