The large-scale construction of new wind farms in Germany has encountered an unexpected obstacle. Manufacturers need permits to transport turbines on roads and have been waiting for months for them.
German authorities have 15,000 applications for transportation of turbines for wind farms. And because of the lengthy approvals, many projects are delayed and the cost of long storage of towers, generators and blades runs into the millions, Reuters reported.
“If nothing changes, it could cost an additional 115 million euros by the end of the year,” Felix Rewald, a spokesman for wind turbine manufacturer Enercon, told the agency.
Permits are needed to transport heavy loads over bridges and highways, he said: sometimes structures and road signs need to be dismantled, and other loads require a police escort or overnight transportation only.
“This is currently one of the most pressing problems for us and our competitors,” Felix Rewald added. He estimates that every day the company loses thousands of euros due to delays.
Permit delays cost the company thousands of euros a day, Rewald said, adding that the bottlenecks can only tighten as wind construction picks up by the middle of next year.
By 2030, Germany plans to get 80 percent of its electricity from renewable sources and onshore wind capacity is set to grow to 115 GW. However, the transportation of equipment alone puts the plans in jeopardy.
Nordex, which is the world’s leading wind turbine manufacturer, told Reuters that the cost of permits has risen tenfold, from 100 euros to 1,000 euros. On average, about 150 permits are needed to transport one wind turbine, a study by engineering association VDMA showed.
1,484 total views, 2 views today
