Germany witnessed a record surge in solar and wind power installations in 2023, setting the stage for continued expansion this year, although challenges remain in meeting the government's renewable energy targets, industry associations reported.
Germany's ambitious goal is to cover 80% of its electricity needs from renewables by 2030, a substantial increase from the 52% achieved in 2023.
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According to industry associations, solar power installations exceeded expectations, with over a million new solar power systems generating 14 GW of energy installed in Germany last year. This marked an 85% year-on-year increase, primarily driven by a surge in residential solar demand. The BSW solar power association revealed that the residential segment alone witnessed the installation of 7 GW, a remarkable 135% increase from the previous year and constituting approximately half of the total installed capacity. Additionally, solar parks contributed 4.3 GW, marking a 40% increase from 2022.
BSW anticipates further growth in solar demand in 2024, citing a survey indicating that more than 1.5 million homeowners plan to install solar systems on their roofs. Carsten Koernig, head of BSW, expressed optimism for a sustained solar boom in 2024 but emphasized the need for reduced bureaucracy, particularly in facilitating access to suitable locations for solar parks.
See also: Renewable Energy Surges in Germany, Accounting for 60.2% of Q3 2023 Power Generation
In the wind sector, Germany also experienced a record in awarded tenders in 2023, reaching around 6.4 GW. However, the wind power association BWE reported that this fell short of the government's target of achieving an annual onshore installed capacity of 10 GW by 2030. BWE highlighted the lack of laws to streamline bureaucracy in the sector, stating that the new bills approved last year had not yet fully taken effect.
BWE's head, Baerbel Heidebroek, emphasized the importance of swiftly addressing approvals, nature conservation, and repowering to ensure a more successful 2024 for the wind sector.
As Germany pursues its renewable energy objectives, the spotlight remains on addressing bureaucratic hurdles to propel the nation towards achieving its ambitious targets.
