Content

Tremendous efforts regarding further decarbonization and electrification of all sectors are necessary to ensure that Germany can meet its commitments under the Paris Climate Agreement and to achieve the national goal of climate neutrality. Therefore, the development of renewable energy – and particularly onshore wind – needs to be sped up. To cover the expected electricity demand, the currently installed capacity of around 55 gigawatts would have to be doubled or even tripled by 2050. A lack of available space is one of the reasons why the required expansion paths have been undercut almost permanently since 2018.
This project aims to analyze how much and what kind of potential space is realistically available in Germany for the expansion of onshore wind energy in the medium and long term. By comparing the potential space with currently available spatial plans and the practice of land designation contained, the potential space is checked for suitability as an actual expansion area as well as for overlaps and necessary balancing of other spatial uses. The Stiftung Umweltenergierecht (Foundation for Environmental Energy Law) supports this survey with legal expertise and analyses legal reasons why potential space has not been used yet. On this basis, the project team develops concrete proposals for measures to increase the available space as well as for the usability of sensitive potential space. A guideline that helps to develop standardized taboo criteria for plan preparation is intended to support the planning practice.