The world has united in a fight against climate change with the help of renewable sources. But what happens when you cannot agree on which renewable source is best? Wind meets history, but also a lot of resistance. Germany has approved a record number of wind turbines, but not everyone in the country is convinced it is the best move forward. Will Germany have a greener future, or not?
Revolutionizing the energy sector takes time
They say all good things take time. In Germany’s case, it takes a lot of time. Germany has refocused its priorities and has set its sights on wind power. However, as the approval of wind turbines slowly progresses, it has faced many challenges as well. According to a German Wind Energy Association (BWE) and VDMA Power Systems report, over 2,400 new onshore turbines were approved in 2024. These turbines will have 14 GW of potential capacity once constructed.
Challenges faced included land availability, regulatory interpretation, and administrative timelines, which resulted in vast performance gaps across Germany. According to Fachagentur Wind und Solar, the average approval timelines have surpassed 24 months in numerous states since 2013. As a result, the speed at which the new capacity reaches the power grid was significantly impacted.
Despite the challenges, Germany had an 85% increase in renewable capacity compared to the previous year, highlighting its dedication to expanding renewable energy. According to Dennis Rendschmidt, VDMA’s managing director:
“This is a significant step in the right direction. The government must maintain this momentum, no matter the outcome of the February 23 federal election.”
Interpreting left from right, and right from wrong
All is fair in love and war, but what about politics? The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) has made its fierce resistance to Germany’s energy policies, especially wind, very clear in its election campaign. During an AfD party congress, the chancellor candidate Alice Weidel criticized renewable energy due to its fluctuation in output efficiency, especially:
“when the wind doesn’t blow and the sun doesn’t shine.”
The center-right Christian Democratic Union’s (CDU) chairman, Friedrich Merz, has also made it clear that he is not a fan, describing wind power as an “ugly transition energy.” Yet, in a contradictory statement on the CDU’s election platform, compiled with the CSU, conversations came to light about utilizing all renewable energy sources, including onshore and offshore wind power.
Weidel also made a vow to deconstruct all of Germany’s turbines and would have the country increase fossil fuel usage, including Russian gas. She also opted to have nuclear power become part of the “sustainable, serious energy mix.” Critics have called this option unrealistic.
Mitigating resistance to change in Germany
Despite all the talk of resistance, Germany had 1,639 offshore turbines in operation at the end of 2024, which produced 9.2 GW of capacity as per the Deutsche WindGuard report. WindGuard also reported that offshore wind was responsible for 25.7 TWh in 2024. This data indicated that Germany had a boost in output and efficiency, despite an unfavourable environment.
“Administrative barriers for new projects and repowering are being clearly reduced.” – The BWE
According to Strategic Energy Europe, EU-level regulations are putting things in place. Legal certainty, industrial resilience, and strategic autonomy in the wind power sector have been reinforced thanks to the extension of the Emergency Regulation (EU-Notfallverordnung) and the implementation of the Net Zero Industry Act (NZIA).
Those who advocate against wind power in Germany can believe what they want, but the figures do not lie. The boost in wind power is a crucial and cost-effective solution to decrease energy prices in Germany. Not only that, but it also lowers the country’s overall carbon footprint, bringing it one step closer to achieving the global mission of zero carbon by 2050.
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