Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
MW by 2006, 3000 MW by 2010, and up to 25,000 MW by 2025/2030.
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In order to support these goals, the government has recently announced a
revised feed-in tarif with higher rates for ofshore development and has
been working on strategies for inancing grid connections and the installa-
tion of overhead transmission cables to transmit the wind power generated
in the North to demand centers in the South and West.
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To summarize, the government has inluenced the economics of wind
power development through a two-pronged approach. First, it seeded
expanding markets through unwavering subsidization;
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second, it encour-
aged infrastructure development and competition through structural
reform. Moreover, to support Germany's wind turbine manufacturers, the
government has reportedly encouraged international market development
by ofering export credit assistance and tying the purchase of domestic wind
power technology to development aid loans.
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5.8 WHAT TO EXPECT GOING FORWARD
Wind power capacity will continue to expand in Germany for at least the
next decade. his is because under the European Union's renewable energy
directive, Germany has committed to a 2020 target of 18% renewable
energy as a proportion of total primary energy consumption. For the elec-
tricity sector, the government's goal is to facilitate a 38.6% contribution
from renewable sources by 2020.
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Given the Merkel administration's deci-
sion to escalate phase-out of Germany's nuclear power reactors, low growth
potential of hydropower and the high cost of alternative energy technolo-
gies, wind power capacity will have to increase considerably in order to allow
Germany to meet the Renewable Energy Directive obligations. According
to the German Wind Energy Association (BWE), the country appears to be
on track to add 15,000 MW of onshore wind power capacity and 10,000
MW of ofshore wind power capacity by 2020. If achieved, Germany's wind
power capacity would reach about 45,000 MW, enough to supply about 25%
of German electricity consumption.
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In short, more market stimulus mea-
sures may be forthcoming to facilitate government goals.
Financial incentives for spurring on new development already exist. In
2009, the government published revised feed-in tarifs. Onshore turbines
will receive €0.0911 per kWh in the irst ive years of operation and €0.0497
per kWh for a subsequent 15-year period. Given the fact that by 2015, 6000
MW of onshore capacity will be at least 15 years old and ready for repower-
ing,
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this new tarif should ensure that repowering does indeed take place.
Under the new tarifs, ofshore turbines will receive €0.13 per kWh for
