Wind power in Germany
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Germany was, until 2007, the world’s largest user of wind power with an installed capacity of 22.3 GW that year, ahead of USA which had an installed capacity of 16.8 GW.[1] More than 19,460 wind turbines are located in the German federal area and the country has plans to build more wind turbines.[2][3] In 2009, the installed capacity was 25 GW.[4] That is below the 31 GW installed in the United States. [5]
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[edit] Overview
Wind power currently produces about six percent of Germany’s total electrical power and it is said that no other country has more technological know-how in this area. As of 2009, Wind power in Germany provides over 90,000 people with jobs and German wind energy systems are also exported.[2] [6] The Fuhrländer Wind Turbine Laasow, built in 2006 near the village of Laasow, Brandenburg, is the tallest wind turbine in the world.
However, the economics of wind power in Germany are under close scrutiny[7] and there are other issues which deserve consideration. These include the effect of wind turbines on the landscape, the effect on the bird population, and the effect on the tourist industry.[2]
[edit] Installed capacity growth
Increases in installed wind power capacity in recent years is shown in the Table below.
| Year | Installed Wind Capacity (MW) |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 6,104 |
| 2001 | 8,754 |
| 2002 | 11,994 |
| 2003 | 14,609 |
| 2004 | 16,629 |
| 2005 | 18,415 |
| 2006 | 20,622 |
| 2007 | 22,247 |
| 2008 | 23,903 |
| 2009 | 25,000 |
- Source: Global Wind 2007 Report, p.21
- Source: Global Wind 2008 Report, p.9
- Source for 2009 figures: [1], 24 Septembre 2009, visited on 17 October 2009.
[edit] Repowering
Repowering, the replacement of first-generation wind turbines with modern multi-megawatt machines, is occurring in Germany. Modern turbines make better use of available wind energy and so more wind power can come from the same area of land. Modern turbines also offer much better grid integration since they use a connection method similar to conventional power plants.[8][9]
[edit] Offshore wind power
Offshore wind energy also has great potential in Germany. Wind speed at sea is 70 to 100% higher than onshore and much more constant. A new generation of 5 MW or larger wind turbines which are capable of making full use of the potential of wind power at sea has already been developed and prototypes are available. This makes it possible to operate offshore wind farms in a cost-effective way once the usual initial difficulties of new technologies have been overcome.[10]
On July 15th of 2009, the first offshore German windturbine completed construction. This turbine is the first of a total of 12 wind turbines for the alpha ventus offshore wind farm in the North Sea. [11]
[edit] See also
- List of wind turbine manufacturers
- Renewable energy in Germany
- Renewable energy in the European Union
- Passivhaus
- Paderborn Wind Farm
[edit] References
- ^ "Global wind 2007 report". Global Wind Energy Council. May 2008. http://www.gwec.net/index.php?id=90. Retrieved 2008-07-16.
- ^ a b c Wind energy in Germany -- overview
- ^ http://www.energies-renouvelables.org/observ-er/stat_baro/observ/baro177.pdf
- ^ Windenergie erreicht 25-Gigawatt-Marke , 24 Septembre 2009
- ^ AWEA [http://www.awea.org/newsroom/releases /10-20-09_AWEA_Q3_market_report.html U.S. WIND ENERGY INDUSTRY INSTALLS OVER 1,600 MW IN THIRD QUARTER], 20 October 2009
- ^ http://www.erneuerbare-energien.de/inhalt/45021/4590/
- ^ Germany's wind farms challenged
- ^ A clean issue -- Wind energy in germany, p. 18.
- ^ Europe Replaces Old Wind Farms
- ^ Offshore Wind Power in Germany
- ^ http://www.alpha-ventus.de
[edit] External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Wind power in Germany |
- Germany Inaugurates 5 MW Wind Turbine Prototype
- 5-MW BARD Near-shore Wind Turbine Erected in Germany
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