Most Germans support wind and sun

02.12.2024

Surveys conducted by the German Wind and Solar Agency show that there is still a great deal of support among the population for green energy projects. Wind power achieves better results.

Four out of five people in Germany are in favor of wind energy. This is according to a survey presented on November 28, commissioned by the Fachagentur (FA) Wind- und Solar from the opinion research institute Forsa.

According to the survey, 78 percent of the 1,002 representative respondents surveyed in September were in favor of wind power and its expansion. Nimby, not in my backyard, wind power should be everywhere but in my backyard: the approval rate is even slightly higher when only people in the immediate vicinity of turbines are considered (79 percent). In the group of those who have no turbines in their neighborhood, exactly two thirds express no or only minor concerns about a possible construction in their vicinity.

Over the course of a good decade, a stable foundation on which the energy transition is based can thus be seen. Although 78% approval for wind power is the lowest level since 2015, fluctuations are minimal - with a record level of 83% in 2017.

78% for turbines - 59% for ground-mounted solar parks

The effects of the climate crisis and recent wars have led politicians to attribute greater importance to green energy. The image of security and freedom energies, which make us independent of totalitarian regimes, is clearly catching on. Over 70 percent of respondents see wind power as a contribution to climate protection and a secure and stable energy supply. Those who reject wind turbines and also protest against them are significantly less likely to follow this attribution.

The financial participation of local authorities and citizens in wind farms is now largely regulated by law. In view of this development, the FA Wind und Solar wanted to know where the money should go. The survey did not reveal any particular purpose. Respondents put climate change adaptation measures in first place (37 percent), followed by nature conservation projects (32 percent).

FA Wind und Solar recently compiled several surveys and studies on the acceptance of ground-mounted solar parks in a background paper. The evaluation relates to the calendar year 2023, in which around 59% of respondents were in favor of larger solar power plants. This figure rises to 71 percent among those who are familiar with solar parks.

Antje Wagenknecht, Managing Director of FA Wind und Solar, considers it important to "maintain and strengthen acceptance for ground-mounted systems" in the coming years. This is against the backdrop of an enormous statutory solar construction target of 81,700 MW (end of 2023) to 215,000 MW by 2030. According to the law, half of the new plants are to be built in open spaces; the proportion has been lower to date.

According to Wagenknecht, acceptance can be achieved on the one hand through financial participation opportunities for the people, through citizen electricity tariffs and municipal participation. In addition, the population should also be involved in the concrete decision-making processes for plant projects.

The FA Wind and Solar is placing a new focus on ground-mounted solar parks. The non-profit association does not deal with smaller solar power plants and solar thermal energy. Its members include the federal government, federal states, municipal umbrella organizations, business and nature conservation associations and companies.

Author: Volker Stephan, E&M powernews