Germany’s wind power expansion is reportedly making progress. According to the “New Osnabrück Times”, a crucial milestone of the so-called “Wind on the Land Act” is to be reached, as estimated by the federal government: By the end of 2027, 1.4 percent of the country’s land area should be designated for wind power.
The Federal Ministry of Economics confirmed the report to the “NOZ” by referring to its own monitoring of wind power targets, stating that all federal states have initiated corresponding steps. The majority of the states had already submitted the required evidence by mid-2024. By the end of the year, the last federal states, Saarland and Thuringia, had delivered the necessary documents. Consequently, all federal states have started the necessary planning law procedures to achieve the 2027 target.
This is a intermediate step: By the end of 2032, the act envisions a designated area of two percent nationwide. The federal government is monitoring whether the federal states are taking the necessary actions. How the land area targets are implemented on the ground remains the responsibility of the states.
Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) welcomed the progress at the state level: “Three years ago, it was still highly controversial whether one could oblige the states to designate two percent of the land area for wind power.” The progress now would, however, show that the states are participating – “and indeed, all of them”, said Habeck. “The expansion is making progress. Now it’s about: holding the course, not braking, and above all, not going backward.