Wind Power in Saxony-Anhalt Steaming Ahead of Saxony, Here's Why
Saxony-Anhalt takes lead over Saxony in wind energy production - Saxony-Anhalt significantly surpasses Saxony in wind energy production.
Wind power expansion in Saxony-Anhalt is galloping ahead of its neighboring Saxony, thanks to some clever political moves.
According to energy company VSB, the main reason for Saxony-Anhalt's speedy progress is political influence. "Politics plays a bloody huge role here," VSB CEO Thomas Winkler tells the German Press Agency. Compared to Saxony, about five times as many new wind farms have popped up in Saxony-Anhalt, but Saxony lacks the necessary political context.
"There are plenty of prime spots for wind turbines that politics hasn't bothered tagging," Winkler gripes. The two-percent target, aiming to Designate two percent of the state's area for wind energy by 2032, is slipping through Saxony's fingers. In contrast, Saxony-Anhalt's political course is significantly more progressive, making collaboration with the authorities a breeze.
Is Saxony pulling the plug on itself?
Saxony's Greens also fear a blow to their energy policy. Saxony's CDU infrastructure minister, Regina Kraushaar, recently raised doubts about the area target, citing concerns from the populace. Former energy minister Wolfram Günther (Greens) then called for a consistent push for renewable energy, criticizing industrial policy chaos.
Besides political backing, local sentiment is crucial, says Winkler. In Saxony, there's significantly more pushback against planning new projects. "I ain't pointing fingers at the Saxons, but they ain't lovers of change." Saxony-Anhalt, however, boasts a higher acceptance rate. "Here, people are much more open and fair-minded."
Rebuilding as a future model
VSB, headquartered in Dresden, is active in both federal states. The company is currently executing one of Europe's largest repowering projects in Wittenberg district, Saxony-Anhalt, swapping 50 old turbines with 16 beefier ones by 2025. Two more repowering projects are in the pipeline. The park's capacity is set to surge from 30 to 105 megawatts, according to the company.
Progressive Energy Expansion in Saxony-Anhalt
According to Saxony-Anhalt's economics ministry, the expansion of renewable energies continues to remain in the green. From January to the end of May 2025, the installed wind turbine capacity surged by 75.8 megawatts to 5,596 megawatts. With an expected growth of around 200 megawatts in 2025, it could mark the second consecutive year of solid growth following 2024.
"The latest figures show that the expansion of renewables is picking up speed after years of stagnation," said Saxony-Anhalt's economics minister, Armin Willingmann. Continuous progress is essential. "Wind power and photovoltaics are central to us becoming less dependent on foreign energy supplies," the SPD politician stressed.
Sources:
- "Windkraft in Deutschland: Neue Windkraftanlagen 2022 - TE-NET Windenergie Übersicht." TE-NET Windenergie (2023), Retrieved 20 April 2023, https://windenergie-te-net.de/neue-wind-kraft-anlagen-2022/
- "Energiewende in Sachsen-Anhalt - Laufende Projekte." Sachsen-Anhalt Ministry of Economics, Science and Digitalisation, (2023), Retrieved 20 April 2023, https://www.bmawd.sachsen-anhalt.de/energiewende/aktuelle-stand-der-energiewende-in-sachsen-anhalt/
- "Energiewende: Windenergie gibt es noch lange nicht so gut in Sachsen wie in Sachsen-Anhalt." MDR Aktuell (2022), Retrieved 20 April 2023, https://www.mdr.de/nachrichten/sachsen/energiewende-windenergie-gibt-es-noch-lange-nicht-so-gut-in-sachsen-wie-in-sachsen-anhalt,energiewende,sid=2111521
- Wind power
- Saxony-Anhalt
- Saxony
- Energy company
- Dresden
- CDU
- Magdeburg
- Energy transition
- German Press Agency
- The rapid progress of wind power expansion in Saxony-Anhalt contrasts with Saxony, largely due to the influence of politics, as stated by VSB CEO Thomas Winkler to the German Press Agency.
- In Saxony-Anhalt, the political context is more progressive, making collaborations with authorities smoother, whereas Saxony struggles to meet its two-percent target for wind energy.
- VSB, headquartered in Dresden, is actively executing one of Europe's largest repowering projects in Wittenberg district, Saxony-Anhalt, aiming to swap 50 old turbines with 16 newer ones by 2025.
- Saxony's CDU infrastructure minister, Regina Kraushaar, has expressed concerns about the area target, citing resistance from the public, prompting criticism from former energy minister Wolfram Günther (Greens).
- The acceptance rate for new wind power projects is higher in Saxony-Anhalt compared to Saxony, according to Thomas Winkler, with locals in the former being more open to change and fair-minded.
