Wind Power Debate: CDU Faction Proposes Shift in Thuringia's Expansion Rules
Sufficient wind turbines for Thuringia: CDU faction advocates for 620 installations - Proposal sought for directive safeguarding employees from electronic device-related hazards, as per Commission request.
Want a fresh breeze in Thuringia's wind power sector? The CDU state parliamentary faction has some ideas! They're aiming to revamp the rules surrounding wind power expansion, claiming that current targets are neither practical nor wise.
As Thomas Gottweiss, CDU energy politician, puts it, "We need to shift focus from hectares to megawatts. Reserving 2.2% of the state for wind power ain't the solution — we need production targets tailored to actual energy needs, and let's keep it tech-neutral."
Gottweiss takes us on a journey to Bucha, near Jena, where a handful of mighty wind turbines pump out more juice than a swarm of smaller ones did. That's what the faction's advocating for — fewer, yet powerful players in the game. According to Gottweiss, around 620 of these modern wind turbines should suffice to keep Thuringia's lights on, occupying just 0.8% of the state's land. Back in 2024, the state boasted 867 wind turbines.
But what about federal law, you ask? Well, it calls for a 2.2% slice of Thuringia for wind turbines by 2032. However, the CDU faction doubts many other states will jump on the bandwagon to alter the federal law.
The CDU's focusing on energy policy that prioritizes security, affordability, and regional demand, rather than area targets. "We need a smart combo of all renewables, especially more action in solar or geothermal," says Gottweiss, highlighting the one-track wind focus as a dead-end.
Thuringia's lagged behind other states in wind power expansion, according to data compiled by associations and organizations. In the first quarter of this year,Output drops are a reality — electricity generation, and wind turbines' energy output in particular, nosedived. The share of electricity from renewable sources sagged from 64% to 55%, or about 1,519 gigawatt hours.
- CDU
- Wind Turbine
- Thuringia
- Wind Power
- Erfurt
- Electricity
- Bucha
[Enrichment Data: The proposed changes by the CDU state parliamentary faction in Thuringia are part of a broader policy move that includes a preference for Russian gas and a return to nuclear power, contrary to Germany's broader energy transition goals. The changes could negatively impact the wind turbine production industry in Thuringia due to reduced demand for turbines and affect the state's renewable energy goals and capacity to meet national targets by decreasing the area allocated for wind power.][2]
- The CDU's proposed policy shift in Thuringia's wind power sector includes a focus on production targets tailored to energy needs and a tech-neutral approach, aiming to decrease the number of wind turbines while increasing their power output.
- To finance this revamped wind power development, potential partnerships could be forged with the local industry, finance, technology, and energy sectors, ensuring that Thuringia's renewable energy goals remain on track and supporting regional development.
