Protests are slowing down wind power expansion in Saxony: What now?

Protests are slowing down wind power expansion in Saxony: What now?

In recent months, the discussion about the expansion of wind turbines in Germany, and especially in Saxony, has become more intense. While the political agenda focuses on renewable energies, social protests against this development seem to be increasing. diesachsen.de reports on the strong resistance in the countryside that is hindering the expansion of wind turbines.

In 2024, 66 wind turbines were approved in Saxony, which represents a significant increase compared to the 29 turbines from 2023. But so far only 12 of these systems have been put into operation since January 1, 2024. In the first half of 2025, an additional 7 systems went online, according to the Saxon Energy Agency.

Wind power and its challenges

Despite the approvals, the expansion of wind energy is lagging behind the ambitious goals. According to current estimates, 145 gigawatts of wind power could be achieved by 2030, but the reality is different. The growth in 2024 was 4.9 gigawatts below the target. This hesitation is caused by ndr.de substantiated, where it is emphasized that the federal government has formulated fixed expansion goals in the Renewable Energy Act, which, however, have not yet been achieved.

Wind turbines are the backbone of the energy transition and account for 48.9% of total renewable electricity generation. With an output of 26.1%, solar energy has exceeded the expansion targets for 2024, which is likely primarily due to greater acceptance among the population. In the short term, solar energy could compensate for the weaknesses of wind power expansion, while in the long term we are dependent on wind power to cover Germany's energy needs.

The role of citizens and new perspectives

Citizens can now join together in community energy societies to apply for funding from BAFA for wind turbines. This option appeals to many municipalities that want to promote local expansion. The new “Citizen Energy Society” funding guideline is intended to support and facilitate the planning and approval of wind turbines.

The Saxon Energy Agency (SAENA) has published an updated FAQ brochure that provides understandable answers to interesting questions about wind power. This brochure is available as a free download and could be of great value, especially to those interested in rural areas.

Long-term goals and the importance of energy storage solutions

In the long term, using all roof surfaces for PV systems does not represent sufficient solutions. The production of solar energy is limited in winter, and large storage solutions are essential to cushion weather-dependent energy production. How bundeswirtschaftsministerium.de reports, a storage requirement of 104 gigawatt hours is estimated by 2030, while only 12 gigawatt hours were available at the end of 2023.

However, the use of renewable energies remains essential for achieving Germany's climate goals. Renewable energy contributed to the avoidance of approximately 256 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions in 2024, an achievement of great importance for future generations. Even if the path there is full of challenges, these developments also represent an opportunity for our society to act more sustainably.