Germany could add up to 6.2GW of new onshore wind capacity in 2017, according to estimates by lobby group FA Wind.
FA Wind has analysed data in grid regulator BNetzA’s plant register and found that from 1 January until 30 September, developers commissioned 1430 turbines totalling 4.160GW.
Based on the first three quarters of the year, the group estimates total onshore expansion for 2017 could be between 5.9GW and 6.2GW.
About one-quarter of new installations or 1039MW were added in Lower Saxony, followed by North Rhine-Westphalia with 697MW and Schleswig-Holstein with 446MW.
Some 17% of new turbines were for repowering projects, with the figure rising to 33% in Schleswig-Holstein.
Enercon turbines had a market share of 38.9% in the first nine months of the year, followed by Vestas with 21.2% and Nordex with 15.2%. GE had a 10.1% of the market, Senvion 8.7% and Siemens Gamesa 3.3%.
The most common turbine commissioned this year up to the end of September was Enercon’s 3MW E-115 machine with 260 units. Nordex’s N-117 model came second with 164 machines installed, with output of between 2.4MW and 3.6MW.
By the end of October, 1920 turbines with a cumulative capacity of 5.96GW had obtained construction licenses, but had not yet been commissioned.
Earlier this month, grid regulator BNetzA said wind farm developers have commissioned 5516MW of new onshore capacity in the last 12 months in Germany, well above 2.8GW a year target set by policymakers for new onshore capacity during the 2017 to 2019 period.
Image: more Enercon E-115 turbines have been installed in Germany this year than any other model (Enercon)
Germany ‘to set onshore record’
Some 6.2GW of new capacity could be added in 2017 says lobby group
By EBS