Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 5
Wind Power in Germany
5.1 INTRODUCTION
he question is not whether we are able to change, but whether we are changing fast enough.
—German Chancellor Angela Merkel
1
In the previous chapter, the malleability of Danish energy policy was high-
lighted as a key factor behind the successful difusion of wind power in
Denmark. his chapter examines wind power difusion in Germany, and in
the process highlights a diferent, though equally successful policy ideology.
Compared to policy of its Nordic neighbor, wind power development policy
in Germany has been far more structured and invariable. In fact, the success
of Germany's wind power development strategy often serves as an exemplar
for proponents of consistent feed-in tarif regimes, which is considered by
some to be the most efective strategy for driving wind power development.
2
As this chapter will demonstrate, fostering wind power development in
Germany is, like in other nations, a complex challenge involving dynamic
interactions between government and nongovernment actors. As German
wind power capacity expanded, there has been social dissent and utility
opposition. Nevertheless, the German government has remained committed
to aggressive wind power difusion policies and has responded to emergent
challenges in a remarkably uniied manner wherein state, regional, and local
government actors have formed integrated problem-solving networks.
3
his chapter also highlights the seamless web of nation-speciic STEP fac-
tors inluencing wind power development that is apparent in Germany. As
one pair of researchers observed, wind power development in Germany has
been marked by “close interplay between the actors within the political sys-
tem, technical and economic development, as well as social factors.”
4
