erlin (dpa) – Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck sees Germany facing a gigantic challenge on the path to achieving its climate goals. “We now need to become more efficient and faster in the next few years,” the Green politician said in Berlin on Tuesday. The speed at which carbon emissions are reduced must be tripled, he said. The new minister also made it clear that he wanted to increase the acceptance of wind turbines and power lines – while calling upon citizens to do their bit at the same time.
Habeck described onshore wind power as the “packhorse” of the energy transition. Its expansion is now to be massively accelerated. According to a ministry paper, an installed capacity of more than 100 gigawatts of onshore wind energy will be needed by 2030. If the dismantling of older plants over the next few years is factored into the equation, this means more than doubling the current installed capacity.
Habeck also wants to give photovoltaics a boost. The installed capacity is to be increased to 200 gigawatts by 2030, a more than threefold increase. The aim is to use all suitable roof surfaces. As envisaged in the coalition agreement of the SPD, the Greens and the FDP, solar power generation is to become mandatory on new commercial buildings and “the rule” in new private buildings.
“The devil, of course, is in the detail,” said Habeck, referring to protests among the population. Whenever wind turbines or power lines are built, people say: “That’s all well and good, but please don’t put them there, that’s where I always go for a walk on Sundays with my dog.” There are always individual concerns: “First and foremost, I hope that we as a society will be able to put our own individual concerns aside from time to time, as otherwise all this will come to nothing.