Saxony Needs to Match Pace with Wind Energy Expansion

Saxony's Minister of Economics Advocates for Faster Expansion of Renewable Energies

Dirk Panter, the Minister of Economics for Saxony, has called for a faster expansion of renewable energies in the region. According to Panter, renewable energies are the most cost-effective energy generation methods available.

Currently, Saxony lags behind other federal states, particularly those in the east, in the expansion of renewable energies, specifically wind energy. The minister's emphasis is on the need for a hydrogen backbone network to support the energy transition.

Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Schleswig-Holstein are currently overtaking Saxony in the expansion of renewable energies. These states are among the most progressive in the nationwide energy transition, while other states are gradually closing the gap at varying speeds depending on regional policies and infrastructure development.

Panter believes that the increased income participation for municipalities will help with the acceptance and support of wind turbines. At least half of these payments must be passed on to the affected communities, but the city or district council decides how this is done.

The minister mentioned that there will be fixed payments for wind energy per kilowatt-hour that will flow to the municipality. However, no new facts about wind energy expansion plans or timeline were mentioned in this paragraph.

Hydrogen alone will not be enough to solve all energy needs, as per Panter. Nevertheless, hydrogen is still considered an important building block in the energy transition. The focus remains on the costs and pragmatism when expanding hydrogen infrastructure.

To maintain or secure self-consumption, Saxony must rely on alternatives such as photovoltaics, biomass, geothermal energy, and new gas power plants at existing coal sites. Panter warns against exaggerated expectations for hydrogen, stating it will not be a magic solution.

The Free State of Saxony is currently at 0.2% of its state area that is built up for wind turbines, while the federal government plans for 2% by 2032. The minister did not mention any specific plans for the construction of new wind turbines or the timeline for achieving the 2% target.

Panter believes that the focus on hydrogen will help to strengthen acceptance and support for wind turbines locally. Despite not being a magic solution, hydrogen is still considered an important building block by Panter. When expanding the network, pragmatism and cost-effectiveness are important considerations, as per Panter.