GERMANS MOVING TO OCEAN WIND

Nuclear’s loss is German wind power’s gain
Jason Deign, July 4, 2011 (Wind Energy Update)

"…An earthquake [hit] Japan and 81 days later the energy industry in Germany, 9,000 kilometres away, [changed] forever…Chancellor Merkel’s decision to shutter the German nuclear sector by 2022 is good news for the renewable energy industry and particularly wind power, which is expected to make up the bulk of the shortfall when the reactors close.

"Under proposed changes to the German Renewable Energies Act (EEG 2012), which are due to come into effect next year, the nation is aiming for 35% of all power to come from renewable energy in 2020, rising to 50% by 2030."

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"To achieve this, the country, which last year had a total installed wind capacity of 27.2 GW and currently has 198.3 MW offshore, has set an offshore target of 10 GW by 2020 and 25 GW, equivalent to around 20 nuclear reactors, by 2030…EEG 2012 also contemplates increasing the feed-in tariff for offshore to EUR€0.15 per kWh over 12 years or €0.19 per kWh for eight years, and deferring cuts from 2015 to 2018, although these will be hiked from 5% to 7% per year when they come into effect.

"The question now for the wind energy industry is how well it can take advantage of this opportunity. What is clear is that it will not all be plain sailing…"