That sounds enormous. And it is. German industry does not seem to be prepared for such demand for wind power giants. Or perhaps there is a lack of will to expand production capacities. Or it is simply too expensive to produce wind turbines on a large scale in Germany. Will the wind power industry share the fate of the solar industry and degenerate into an import hit?
Be that as it may, it remains to be noted that the lion's share of components for the new wind turbines to be built must be imported. From where? From our long workbench, China, of course. What does that mean? There must be companies in China that can produce the gigantic components for wind turbines in large quantities for the German market (7,000 wind turbines = 21,000 rotor blades). Chinese ports must have the capacity to load them. Wind turbines require different loading cranes than containers. Then there is a need for special ships that can carry the rotor blades, on which Usain Bolt could easily have trained for the 100-metre sprint, along with their bases, and sail 20,000 km across the oceans. In the best-case scenario – if the Houthis agree – through the Suez Canal, otherwise around the Cape of Good Hope. So far, so good.
In this country, special unloading cranes are required in ports such as Bremerhaven, Wilhelmshaven and Cuxhaven. In the latter port, 80% of the imported wind turbines are currently being unloaded. Further expansion will take years. Offshore installations require special ships that can install the turbines at sea. For onshore installations, i.e. on land, each installation must go through lengthy approval procedures in order to transport the components across roundabouts and narrow motorway access roads to the intended installation sites. All the necessary investments require planning security – which brings us to the next problem. The previous federal government attached little importance to the further expansion of wind farms. Now, the ideology-driven expansion of wind energy is being pushed forward with all possible means. However, the next federal election is already in 2025. At present, it is questionable whether the current government will be confirmed in office in 2025. Which company in Germany should now make the enormous investments in infrastructure with the risk that after 2025 the focus of energy production could shift again?
If the decision is now made to cement 7,000 powerful wind turbines into the North Sea, this is not an investment that will last for a four-year political election cycle. The next federal government will have to live with the gigantic wind farms. And the one after that too. 7,000 concrete-encased arguments provide hard facts, including for the seabed, with its flora and species-rich fauna, which will be damaged as a result. And it is completely unclear whether and how the wind monsters can ever be dismantled, let alone disposed of.
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