Offshore investments are a Central component of the energy transition. However, the plants take away the Wind, says a previously unpublished study.

Scheduled Windklau? The Rotor threatens to be 90 kilometers West of Sylt photo: Paul Langrock

BERLIN taz | is A Central pillar of German and European energy transition to be inefficient and more expensive than planned. A new report, according to the previously planned Expansion of wind energy at sea ("offshore could lead"), that actually less power is produced at a higher cost, because the wind farms take away according to current plans, each other in the Wind.

the researchers at the Technical University of Denmark have Studied in Roskilde, and at the Max-Planck-Institute for biogeochemistry in Jena, Germany. The study, entitled "Making the Most of Offshore Wind" was turning in the order, the think tanks, Agora Energiewende and Agora Traffic. It is so far unpublished, is the taz, however.

The experts come to the conclusion that the previous plans have underestimated the "Windklau" on the high seas. If many wind turbines together, will reduce behind the rotors of motor and speed of air currents. This phenomenon is explored for wind farms, well, have an impact on a whole maritime Region such as the North sea, show the calculation models.

In the case of the projections, and provide access to the Parks, especially in the German Bight is relatively narrow, there could be over 4,000 hours, in which the mills produce under full load electricity, at 3,000 to 3,300 hours, reduce, warn the experts. If Germany – as previously planned – up to 2050 a total of "50 to 70 gigawatts (GW) in the German Bight installed, would reduce the number of full-load hours significantly," it says.

"even the current plans in Germany, the wind farms put together for optimum yield too close", writes Frank, Peter, Vice-chief of Agora Energiewende. "According to these requirements of the Offshore will not be able to afford Wind in 2050 its planned contribution to the energy turnaround."

so Far power of about 8 GW in German waters rotors with a total, which is about eight times as much as the controversial coal power plant in Datteln can deliver. The Federal government wants to increase the performance according to the "climate change package" until 2030, up to 20 GW.

If Germany is to be carbon neutral by 2050, are Offshore to do this, various models suggest that about 50 to 70 GW of power needed. But it could be even more, if the wind power is further slowed by lawsuits or if on the high seas with wind power on a large scale "green hydrogen" is to be generated.

The EU expects that Europe will emerge by 2050, about 400 to 450 GW of Offshore Wind capacity-up to 1,000 GW, if the hydrogen is generated. However, to date, only Offshore wind turbines are in the EU, with a total capacity of 22 GW. Planning and construction of the facilities would have to accelerate for the goals of "significantly", warn the experts.

The competent authority sees no Problem In the area development plan 2019 of the Federal office for Maritime shipping and hydrography (BSH), there is no question of problems that might be caused by the wind subsided due to the narrow design.

At the performance showed "no significant differences in the expected usage," it says. However, the BSH experts are familiar with the new computing models to this topic: "If the findings confirm that we will revise our plans again," says Luke of Vienna get from the BSH. Areas that are far from the coast, could be bigger and less tightly planned.

Additional corridors should be the diversion of shipping routes and military restricted areas

The additional faces should not interfere with the conservation of nature, is it at Agora. Because animal rights activists beat the Offshore planning because of construction noise and dead birds Alarm. Additional corridors, where the wind could recover energy again, should the diversion of shipping routes and military restricted areas.

"We need such a large-scale Wind-refresher areas," says Sebastian Boie of the Foundation Offshore wind energy, the lobby organization of the wind industry and coastal countries. "The planning for this needs to be European to be coordinated." So far in the future, the plans are nation-States. Therefore, Agora traffic calls turn: "policy and planning authorities are well advised to plan future wind parks at sea, spacious and with a rather low Surface coverage."

The Chance to do so, the EU has week-Commission's next: On Wednesday, it presents the EU in a climate act, with the Europe until 2050 in a climate-neutral should be. One of the most important points: the Expansion of Offshore wind power.