Wind Energy Expansion in NRW Takes Center Stage in 2024

The wind energy sector in North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) witnessed a remarkable acceleration in 2024, with a whopping 154 new wind energy plants with a gross capacity of 748 Megawatts (MW) becoming operational over the year. According to an interim evaluation by the Wind and Solar Agency, the previous peak year for wind energy expansion in NRW was 2017, with a net increase of 881 MW. Account for the phased-out older units over the past 12 months, the net growth stands at 626 MW. Thus, NRW topped the charts for both gross and net addition of wind energy capacity in 2024.

Hans-Josef Vogel, the chairman of the State Association for Renewable Energies NRW (LEE NRW), is optimistic that the approval authorities greenlit the construction of around 680 new wind energy plants with over 4,000 MW of power by the end of 2024. "In comparison with other federal states, NRW is far and away the leader," Vogel observed. " Once thought to be unthinkable, NRW is now Germany's No.1 wind energy state. This is also reflected in the approval periods: Applications for new wind energy projects were approved in an average of 17 months in 2024, down from nearly 25 months the year before. Vogel stated, "The reduction in bureaucracy is working, as evidenced by certain procedures being completed in just nine months."

Government's Wind Energy Plans Moving Steadily Ahead

Government coalition's plan for this legislative period includes the commencement of at least an additional 1,000 wind energy units. This translates into approximately 200 installations per year. The 680 wind energy plants approved in 2024, if all become operational in the next two and a half years, means the state government's 1,000 unit expansion goal will be realized. Since the change of government in the summer of 2022, around 320 new wind energy units have been connected to the grid. Vogel stressed, "This is the result of the Renewable Energy Act's Article 2, where Renewable Energies are seen as of overriding public interest and contributing to security. This basic principle is increasingly being recognized by the administration."

However, the pace of expansion in the wind energy sector needs to increase for the state government to reach its target and for approved plans to materialize into concrete installations. "Approvals alone do not generate kilowatt-hours,", Vogel added.

The Accelerating Wind Energy Expansion and its Impact on the Public and Industry

The LEE NRW stresses the importance of citizens and businesses enjoying concrete benefits from the wind energy expansion. "The Citizen Participation Law and local citizen electricity tariffs introduced by the state government in late 2023 provide a solid foundation for this," said Vogel. "There is, however, room for improvement in the direct supply of wind-generated electricity to industrial and commercial enterprises located near wind parks."

Future of Wind Energy Expansion in NRW Post-2024

To avoid a potential slump in wind energy expansion in a few years, the LEE NRW insists on the rapid designation of new areas. The present regional plans, currently being prepared in six planning regions, are anticipated to facilitate the establishment of new locations.

In addition, there are proposals to reintroduce the disputed 1,000-meter minimum distance policy between wind energy plants and residential areas through the backdoor in Eastern Westphalia and the Arnsberg Government Region. The state legislature had abolished this regulation in the summer of 2023. For the Münsterland region, the draft for the new regional plan includes a third of the areas that are not suitable for installing new wind energy plants.

Further Reading:

• Germany's Wind Energy Expansion in 2024