The expansion of wind energy in Germany is accelerating again. This follows from an analysis carried out by Südwestdeutscher Rundfunk (SWR) based on data from the Federal Network Agency. Thus, in 2023 a total of 1,466 new wind turbines were approved. The Federal Ministry of Economic Affairs informed SWR that more permits for wind turbines were granted in 2023 than at any time since 2016.

Nearly 8 gigawatts of electricity production was recently approved, an 80 percent increase. “However, the measures that have recently come into force are only beginning to take effect,” the ministry says, “and others are underway. If implemented consistently, they have the potential to achieve even greater acceleration.”

This is the first time a positive trend has emerged after several years of stagnation. Last year there were 977 wind turbines approved by the competent authorities, and in the negative year of 2019 there were only 477. “The laws of the federal government are beginning to take effect,” said a spokesperson for the Federal Wind Energy Association (BWE). ) There is also a positive atmosphere in the sector, which is more optimistic about the future than it has been for a long time.”

NRW is once again the leader

A comparison of the federal states reveals significant differences. However, the upward trend can be clearly seen almost everywhere: the leader in new approvals is again North Rhine-Westphalia far ahead of other countries. Here, 364 new wind turbines were approved. This is significantly more than last year (200) and three times more than in 2019.

Also in Schleswig-Holstein there is a sharp increase. Last year, twice as many wind turbines were approved on the coast as in 2022 (123). The upward trend is also noticeable in several southern countries. Rhineland-Palatinate (89) and Hesse (82) have approximately doubled their number in 2023 compared to the previous year. Baden-Württemberg remains at a significantly lower level, but has also increased by around a third to 59 permits. Located in East Germany Brandenburg (144) before Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (124) and Saxony-Anhalt (64).

No rebound in Bavaria

Bavaria, the largest state in terms of area, remains at the bottom of the list among the states. With only 17 permits, Bavaria is also far behind the smaller federal states and occupies by far the last place among the large states.

The responsible Bavarian Ministry of Economy, in response to a request from SWR, stated that, despite the fact that only 17 permits have been granted, the development is considered “very positive.” They are confident “that the Bavarian state government's goal of building 1,000 new wind turbines by 2030 can be achieved.” To achieve this goal, around 150 wind turbines per year would now have to be built in Bavaria, something that had never been done before.

“Toothless Tiger”

Criticism of the Bavarian state government is becoming stronger, also from the business sector. A spokesman for the Bavarian economic initiative “Windrat” complained to SWR that the “wind offensive” announced by the federal government was a “toothless tiger.” The Bavarian administration is partially slowing the expansion of wind energy and delaying planning and approval processes. The Bavarian economy will need cheap wind energy in the future. The expansion also creates added value and jobs locally.

The BWE also criticizes the state of Bavaria. In this case, regulations on distances too great for wind turbines “have acted as a defense mechanism against wind energy for too long. This made the provision of land for wind energy virtually impossible. “The availability of renewable energy is increasingly becoming a decisive location factor for investment decisions.”

The president of the Bavarian state BWE, Bernd Wust, is now calling for the creation of a “Bavarian Working Group on Wind Energy”. Current approval and expansion figures are “well behind the goals we have set.” Approvals need to be simplified and expansion in Bavaria greatly accelerated. “Already in the November tender, of a total of 165 awards, only ten went to Bavaria. We have to accelerate the pace considerably,” demands Bernd Wust.