Wind: The south needs a lot of electricity and produces little

Wind: The South Needs More Power, But Produces Little Baden-Württemberg is expanding its wind power capacity, yet the region faces challenges in generating enough electricity despite high demand. Recent developments highlight the growing gap between energy consumption and production in southern Germany. The insolvency of the wind energy company Sowitec near Reutlingen has drawn attention to the broader issue. According to current plans, the state aims to have 12,000 megawatts of installed wind power capacity by 2040. As of now, 850 wind turbines with a total output of 2,239 megawatts are operational. There are currently 236 approved installations, including several repowering projects that replace older, less efficient turbines with newer models. Another 1,349 applications are pending, and 57 projects could begin immediately. Despite these efforts, progress has stalled due to changing market conditions and updated calculations under the Renewable Energy Act (EEG). While 35 percent of national electricity demand comes from Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, only 14 percent of wind power is generated in these two states. This imbalance underscores the challenge faced by southern regions in competing with northern counterparts for investment and subsidies. Oberbürgermeister Boris Palmer of Tübingen has been advocating for a wind farm in the Rammert area, a 3,200-hectare nature reserve partly designated as a landscape protection area. For five years, he has pushed for the installation of nine modern wind turbines there, which would supply a quarter of Tübingen’s electricity needs. However, the project is now at risk of failure. This is not due to opposition from local initiatives such as “Rettet den Rammert,” which has fought against the planned wind park, but rather due to shifting market dynamics and an incomplete adjustment of the EEG. Palmer explains that while extensive priority areas were established, the recent drop in the price per kilowatt-hour by 25 percent has rendered previous investor calculations obsolete. “It shows an imbalance in the auction system,” he says. Construction is now concentrated mainly in northern Germany, where the law's predefined correction factor still allows for economically viable wind farms. In contrast, southern regions struggle to meet economic thresholds, making investment difficult. The potential consequences of inaction are significant. If the situation persists, the city utilities may have to write off planning costs, and businesses face massive capital losses. Palmer argues that the cost structure for wind turbines in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg is too high compared to the north, where efficiency rates reach up to 100 percent. As a result, only about two percent of grants awarded for new installations go to southern regions. The Rammert project alone could contribute around two million euros to regional value creation, with an investment volume of 90 million euros. “No company invests when their costs exceed the compensation they receive,” Palmer emphasizes. He calls for urgent reforms to the EEG. To address this, a rare political alliance has formed among key figures. Minister-President Cem Özdemir of the Greens, Environment Minister Thekla Walker (also Greens), and Bavarian Minister-President Markus Söder (CSU) along with his Economic Minister Hubert Aiwanger (Free Voters) are working together to amend the law. Özdemir seeks reliable power supplies to maintain competitiveness, while Söder wants future AI data centers to have stable energy access. If the government fails to adjust the auction process, citizens may face higher costs and discomfort at home. With wind farms continuing to concentrate in the north, the south risks being left behind in the transition to renewable energy. The outcome of these efforts will determine whether southern Germany can secure its place in the evolving energy landscape.