IG Windkraft: Renewable expansion targets too insignificant – Austria

National wind power producers want higher expansion targets in the Renewable Energy Law. The annual expansion rate of 400 megawatts (MW) is too low; would have to be increased to 500 MW or 120 wind turbines per year if the government really wanted to have 10 more terawatt hours (TWh) of wind power in 2030. The industry is now in its second year without funding for new projects, this stop must finally terminate, demanded IG Windkraft on Tuesday.

Further expansion is required, totaling 12 TWh, by 2030, because around 1000 MW of production from old wind turbines (with a generation capacity of around 2 TWh) will have to be replaced in the next ten years. What is needed is “a turbo without a handbrake”, explained the president of the association, Fritz Herzog. Achieving the government’s goal of 100 percent renewable energy supply – in balance over the year – by 2030 should be “top priority.”

The current version of the Renewable Development Law (EAG), as decided by the Council of Ministers on March 17, does not include the repowering of wind turbines, criticized IG wind lawyer Ursula Nahrer at a press conference. It could only be “a mistake” because it is clearly anchored for biomass plants. The obligation of distribution network operators to draw up network development plans must be anchored, as required by the EU.

IG Windkraft wants wind power to start promoting wind power with full funding even during the year. In addition, a differentiation of funding must be determined by location, as is practiced in Germany and France.

And finally, the managing director of the interest group, Stefan Moidl, again asked for the administrative award of the financing for wind energy beyond the year 2024: it is essential not only to refrain from tenders until then, as planned, but also more there. In many European countries, tenders would have caused major disruptions in the expansion of wind power.