Expanding Renewable Energy by 2035 with the Help of the Easter Package
We make it our common mission to drastically accelerate the expansion of renewable energy and remove all obstacles and barriers from the way.
(Coalition Agreement, lines 1801-1802)
To exit fossil fuels as quickly as possible and drive the expansion of renewable energy, the Federal Ministry for Economics and Climate Protection submitted the so-called "Easter Package" to the federal cabinet in April 2022. But what is hidden behind this metaphorical term anyway?
The "Easter Package" is a very comprehensive legislative package that implements many energy policy content from the coalition agreement. This package represents the largest energy policy legislative change in decades. With it, the expansion of renewable energy is comprehensively accelerated – on water, on land, and on roofs.
The goal: By 2035, electricity in Germany should come almost entirely from renewable sources.
What Measures Are in the Easter Package?
First, we would like to note that the content of the Easter Package is quite comprehensive. In the following, we focus on the points most important for the construction industry.
The Easter Package is intended to, among other things:
- create new areas for the expansion of photovoltaics (PV)
- enable greater community participation in PV and wind power projects
- equip wind-weaker locations with the latest system technologies
- designate more space for offshore wind power in the North Sea and Baltic Sea
- reduce obstacles in planning and approval for power grid and wind energy expansion
An important role is played here by the new classification that the use of renewable energy is in the "paramount public interest" and thus serves "public safety." The escalation of the climate crisis and Russia's violation of international law in invading Ukraine show us how important it is to switch to renewable energy. On the one hand, renewable energy drives climate protection; on the other hand, the switch leads to reduced dependence on other states.
With the planned measures, the expansion of wind and solar energy, which has barely progressed in Germany in recent years, should finally be implemented. The planned actions should come into effect as quickly as possible and "obstacles and barriers" to renewable energy should be removed from the way. The coordination to approval of wind turbines takes an enormously long time due to many regulations, too long:
"One of our customers has been planning the construction of wind turbines for 1.5 years – because the approval processes are very time-consuming and difficult, we have not yet been able to deliver the appropriate construction machinery via klarx," says Fabian Landstorfer, Key Account Management at klarx.
This and much more should change with the Easter Package. A total of 56 legislative changes are planned. The focus is on accelerating the expansion of renewable energy. It is driven by the elimination of German bureaucracy. Applications, review procedures, and tenders are simplified and accelerated.
What Does the Energy Transition Mean for the Construction Industry?
For onshore wind energy, expansion rates will be increased to a level of 10 GW per year, so that by 2030 onshore wind energy installations totaling around 115 GW should be installed in Germany. For solar energy, expansion rates will be increased to a level of 22 GW per year, so that by 2030 solar systems (roof systems, ground-mounted systems, special solar systems) totaling around 215 GW should be installed in Germany (Source).
For comparison: In 2020, Germany installed 1,431 megawatts, i.e., 1.4 GW or 420 onshore wind energy systems. The federal government sees a significant increase here (Source no longer available: https://www.enercon.de/de/aktuelles/enercon-begruesst-osterpaket-der-deutschen-bundesregierung/).
What klarx Customers Say About the Easter Package
But what do these measures really mean for the construction industry? And for our customers in the photovoltaic and geothermal sectors?
ENERCON GmbH is the largest German manufacturer of wind turbines and one of our most loyal customers. "After years of market decline, a renaissance of wind energy in Germany is in sight – we are very pleased," explains ENERCON CEO Dr. Jürgen Zeschky. "As a manufacturer of wind turbines, we will support this endeavor with all our might." (Source no longer available: https://www.enercon.de/de/aktuelles/enercon-begruesst-osterpaket-der-deutschen-bundesregierung/)
Enpal also benefits enormously from the Greens' new legislative change. The advantage of solar, of course, is that demand doesn't just come from the state, but private households increasingly prefer solar on their roofs. "Given the energy crisis that has gripped Germany for weeks, there is much to do. Demand has really exploded, I've never experienced anything like this," said co-founder Mario Kohle in the podcast "Die Stunde Null". "Since the outbreak of war and rising energy prices, many people have suddenly realized that they want a solar system – or also storage, heat pumps, and electric cars." (Source)
One thing is certain: For our customers, this means that construction projects can start faster by shortening approval cycles. Additionally, the topic of PV and wind power systems receives more attention. This is good too: After all, wind power is the second most important energy source, despite difficulties in expansion. (Source no longer available: https://www.zdf.de/nachrichten/wirtschaft/windkraft-weltweite-energiequelle-grafiken-100.html)
What Does the Easter Package Mean for klarx?
The expansion of renewable energy is closely linked to our company philosophy, which places great emphasis on the topic of "sustainable construction industry." Robert Habeck sets a sign with the introduction of the Easter Package for the necessity that things must change – for a climate-neutral Europe.
With the help of the Easter Package measures, we can support our customers even better in realizing sustainable construction projects. Reducing lengthy approval cycles brings better planning security and faster action for both sides.
But above all, one point is of great relevance here: Renewable energy, including photovoltaics and geothermal energy, is crisis-proof. A look back at the past and into the future shows that there is great potential here and will also be indispensable in the future.
At klarx, we are committed to sustainable construction projects and bring a wealth of expertise in this field. More information can be found on our Photovoltaics page.
