Germany's H1 onshore wind additions surpass 1.7 GW

Jul 31, 2014 - About 1,723 MW of onshore wind capacity was installed in Germany during the first half of the year, which corresponds to a 66% year-on-year rise, the German Wind Energy Association (BWE) said on Tuesday.

Between 3,300 MW and 3,700 MW of new onshore wind projects are projected to be completed by the end of 2014 for a total installed onshore wind capacity of at least 37,000 MW in the country. As a result, onshore wind’s share of power supply for Germany will grow to as much as 10%, BWE president Hermann Albers commented. Still, he does not see 2015 as an equally dynamic year for the sector.

The first-half growth can be explained with the stampede to complete onshore wind projects before the new Renewable Energy Act takes effect in August, as investors were unsure about what its impact would be this year. Moreover, developers have hurried up to make use of new areas set aside for wind projects by certain German states, before they get the chance to define their own distance-from-homes rules for new turbines.

At least 260 MW of repowering projects were carried out in the sector during the first six months of 2014 and, at the same time, at least 64 MW of wind turbines have been dismantled.

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