04/13/2023
Source: energy & management powernews
The renewable energy sector is calling on the German government to use all means to accelerate onshore wind power expansion and is making concrete proposals.
Currently, the reform of the Federal Immission Control Act (BImSchG) is on the agenda. In the opinion of the German Renewable Energy Federation (BEE), it offers opportunities to accelerate the expansion of onshore wind power. It could also streamline approval procedures for all renewable energy plants. BEE President Simone Peter said of the draft law, "We welcome the present proposals of the Federal Government, nevertheless, there is also a need for improvement."
The think tank Agora Energiewende had also submitted 15 proposals on how the upcoming amendments to the law could be made more effective. "The climate goals require practically immediately a quadrupling of the annual wind power addition on land," said Simon Müller, director Germany of Agora Energiewende. The basis would have to be measures to accelerate the procedures as well as to provide sufficient land. "At the same time, there needs to be a clear commitment from the wind industry to consistently ramp up capacity," Müller demanded.
Supplements needed in the law
Some industry proposals are reflected in the German government's draft reform of the BImSchG, Peter praised. These included the limitation of extension options for approval procedures or the adoption of time and distance requirements for repowering from the Federal Nature Conservation Act. "A lack of time limits quickly becomes a gateway for dragging out procedures," she reported from industry experience.
In addition to limiting extension options, supplementary time limits for requesting additional documentation and confirming completeness would still be needed, among other things. In the application of the new regulations, the federal and state ministries are under an obligation to support the authorities by providing information or enforcement aids, Peter demanded. In addition to wind energy, he said, "the sand needs to be removed from the gears" for bioenergy and geothermal energy to shorten permits. The current amendment should therefore broaden its focus to other technologies, Peter concluded.
Unblocking
Agora calculated that about 5,000 MW of wind power could be built in the short term if currently blocked, ready-to-build projects were realized. "That already represents half of the addition needed by 2024," Mueller said. Instruments that protect project developers against massive price increases in the volatile market situation could also have an accelerating effect. For example, it should be possible to return awards that have already been granted in order to participate in the next tender round with higher fees. A modified penalty payment rule for project delays would also allow project developers to complete construction projects affected by delivery bottlenecks without penalty.
Simplifying permits for heavy-duty transport would also be an effective measure to bring ready-to-build plants online in the short term. Commercial and special construction areas should be opened up for wind power production and municipalities should be given more freedom in designating areas, Agora further demands. Enabling the early start of construction of wind turbines before completion of the approval process would also speed up implementation. At the same time, there needs to be a permanent simplification of environmental and species protection assessments. "Grouping wind turbine models into so-called type-variant clusters allows projects that have been started to be completed with similar models from the variant group," Müller further explained.
The Agora study "15 Measures for Accelerated Wind Power Expansion" is available on the Internet.
Author: Susanne Harmsen
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