Among other things, WAB calls on the German government to use all short-term acceleration potential for offshore wind expansion to 30 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and to at least double the capacity to be put out to tender for 2022. The goal must be to equalise the expected expansion volumes from the end of the decade forward.
"The innovative value chain and thus employment in the industry has suffered considerably under the last federal government's expansion freeze. The wind industry needs stable market conditions instead of constant price pressure. The new federal government must now provide short-term impetus and a steady expansion path in order to finally ensure long-term reliable value creation and rising employment figures in the domestic market," said WAB Managing Director Heike Winkler. "Studies supported by us show: This benefits the value chain nationwide."
In addition, the association calls for the proportionate offshore wind expansion quantities for the 10 GW of electrolysis capacity for "green" hydrogen planned by 2030 to be localised - alongside the planned expansion for electricity demand. "Find a balance of climate and environmental protection in accordance with the co-usage principle", the "WAB messages" say.
In WAB's view, it is urgently necessary to implement a regulatory framework for "green" hydrogen. For example, not only "green" hydrogen produced with the help of wind turbines that were newly built or commissioned in the same year as the electrolyser should be eligible. The production of "green" hydrogen from wind energy must be possible commercially.
WAB is in favour of a close dialogue between politics and industry with the support of trade associations, as well as a central coordination office for the concerns and approval processes within the framework of the energy transition.
The industry group considers the availability of sites to be one of the most important tasks in the area of onshore wind energy. The federal government should encourage the designation of further areas in the context of the federal-state strategy, the association said. Another message concerns the acceptance of energy transition technologies: The federal government should encourage the establishment of service points at the state level and thus create participation and dialogue formats for residents with the help of the federal states. Particularly in view of the high level of acceptance of the energy transition, it makes sense to encourage a dialogue with all relevant stakeholders. Innovative small and medium-sized enterprises can play a special role in this process with their contribution to value creation and employment. The association rejects fixed distance regulations, as these do not contribute to acceptance.
"The new federal government must now quickly set the course and lay the foundations for the planned, significantly more ambitious expansion of wind energy at sea and onshore," says Heike Winkler. "The grid development plan and the spatial planning on land and at sea, the infrastructure required for 'green' hydrogen and the implementation of the next call for tenders should in future correspond to the new expansion targets," comments the WAB Managing Director. "The new government must initiate the groundwork for the implementation of the expansion targets as quickly as possible," says Winkler. "This must now be supplemented by an overview of a coordinated gas and electricity grid infrastructure development."
Link to the "100-days-messages of the wind industry for the new German government" (in German)
About WAB e.V.
Bremerhaven-based WAB is the nationwide contact partner for the offshore wind industry in Germany and the leading business network for onshore wind energy in the north-west region. The association fosters the production of "green" hydrogen from wind energy. It comprises some 250 smaller and larger businesses as well as institutes from all sectors of the wind industry, the maritime industry as well as research. www.wab.net
Contact
Hans-Dieter Sohn | Senior Communications and Marketing Manager WAB e.V. | +49 173 2382802 | hans.sohn @ wab.net
