German wind energy and industry associations are asking the government to change auction rules to address the slowdown in new onshore wind capacity additions.
The German Wind Energy Association (BWE) along with trade network VDMA Power Systems want Berlin to make permanent a regulation that only projects that have consent can bid into auctions.
Additionally, the groups want to see approval procedures accelerated. The calls for change are in response to a fall in new wind capacity additions in 2018.
According to figures provided by DeutscheWindGuard, total new onshore wind capacity added in 2018 reached just 2402MW.
The figure, which includes new wind farms and repowering projects, represents a decline of 55% compared with 2017.
BWE and VDMA Power Systems said the measures would ensure that more projects receive approval to secure both stable construction and competition in the market.
BWE managing director Wolfram Axthelm said: “Very few permits were issued in Bavaria, Saxony-Anhalt, the Saarland and Schleswig-Holstein.
“In order to meet the growing demand of the modern energy industry, all federal states have to participate in the expansion.”
He added: “In order to ensure sufficient competition, the licensing backlog must be reduced. All participants must create the conditions for more permits.”
The 2.4GW added last year falls well below the mid-2018 estimate of 3300MW made by BWE and VDMA Power Systems.
VDMA Power Systems managing director Matthias Zelinger said: “It is self-explanatory that the Federal government’s 65% cannot be achieved by continuing the currently foreseeable annual expansion by 2030.”
He said that Germany’s position as a wind industry leader in the global market is under threat.
Projects without consent dominated the tenders in 2017 and have still yet to be realised.
In addition, more than 900MW could not be connected to the grid on time.
According to BWE, the reasons for this delay include complaints procedures about issued permits slowing down development.