A Collaborative Project of all Parties in Germany and France for Promoting Wind Energy in Both Countries. Current Wind Energy Use Situation in France and Germany. By M. Persem, M. Bahrenberg

In France, the conditions for successful development of wind energy are fundamentally positive: In addition to the second largest wind potential in Europe, the French energy law, POPE, enacted on July 13th 2005, and ambitious political objectives created secure underlying conditions which are comparable to those established in Germany as a result of the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG). At the same time, wind energy, with a currently installed capacity of approximately 3000 MW, is still at a fledgling stage1. In 2007, France was in 5th place in Europe in terms of the installed wind energy capacity. Compared with 2006, 888 MW of additional wind energy capacity were built in 2007, the third highest newly installed capacity in Europe. Today, almost every region of France has some wind energy generation facilities – only Aquitaine, Alsace, Bourgogne and Franche-Comté were still without wind turbines at the end of 2007.       
 
With an installed wind power capacity of 22,247 MW at the end of 2007, Germany remains the leader in wind energy. In spite of a wind energy share of 7.2 % of power supply, the German domestic market has experienced a downturn in recent years. In future, repowering and offshore wind energy will be two important elements of national wind energy utilisation.      
 
In light of similar political conditions and the common goal of further developing wind energy, a German-French exchange of experience and information is of great interest to both countries. The aim of this is to reach European and national climate protection goals together, further develop each country’s industry and reduce barriers that oppose utilisation of wind energy.      
 
History of the Coordination Centre for Wind Energy
A Franco-German growth initiative was launched in 2003, at the same time as the EU growth initiative initiated under the Italian presidency of the EU Council. As part of this initiative, the wind energy project was passed. At the “renewables2004” conference, the French minister for the industry, Devedjian, and German environment minister, Trittin, declared their intent to develop the Franco-German growth initiative in the wind energy sector in particular. Thus, the Franco-German wind energy growth initiative project was incorporated in the international plan of action of the conference as a joint action by the two countries. The aim of the growth initiative is to allow a regular exchange between parties involved in the wind energy sector in Germany and France.        
 
In order to initiate the cooperation between German and French companies, an intensive collaboration between the German Ministry for the Environment, the French Ministry of Industry, the German Wind Energy Association (BWE), the French Association of Renewable Energy Sources (Syndicat des Energies Renouvelables) and numerous companies from the German and French wind energy industry founded the Coordination Centre for Wind Energy in November 2006. The Coordination Centre for Wind Energy has been a registered association since July 1st 2008.         
 
In addition to networking all parties involved in the wind energy sector in France and Germany, the Coordination Centre for Wind Energy’s responsibilities are to provide and translate studies and documents to guarantee an exchange of experience and information. Other responsibilities include organising and running conferences, as well as public relations work. The Coordination Centre for Wind Energy creates a communication platform to arrange cooperation partners and to network the different parties in both countries. At the same time, the ministries and associations, together with the industry representatives, form a control committee which is responsible for the strategic and thematic orientation of the coordination centre. This guarantees that the work of the coordination centre fulfils the requirements and interests of all parties in both countries.        
 
Funding of the Coordination Centre for Wind Energy
The Coordination Centre for Wind Energy is funded by initial state financing from the German Federal Ministry of the Environment, supplemented with co-funding by German and French companies2. From 2009 on, the Coordination Centre for Wind Energy is to be financed fully by contributions from German and French companies. Currently, numerous renowned companies from the German and French wind energy sectors are involved in the Coordination Centre for Wind Energy, including various turbine manufacturers, planners, financing companies and lawyers3.       
 
Conferences of the Coordination Centre for Wind Energy
By organising and holding expert conferences, the Coordination Centre for Wind Energy initiates an exchange of experience and information in the wind energy sector on numerous topical subjects in France and Germany. As part of these conferences, all parties and decision-makers involved from both countries are brought together to discuss a subject with representatives of the industry, and thus to develop possible solutions if possible. The Coordination Centre for Wind Energy has held six conferences to date:      

•  “Noise emissions of wind turbines in France and Germany” conference in January 2007 in Berlin.
• “Varying raw material prices and labour costs – Effects on manufacturers and operators of wind turbines” conference in September 2007 in Husum.
• “Marking of wind turbines in France and Germany” conference in November 2007 in Paris.
• “Wind turbines and radar systems in France and Germany” conference in November 2007 in Paris.
• “Wind energy and grid integration in France and Germany” conference in April 2008 in Berlin.
• “Effects of wind energy on birds and bats in France and Germany” conference in April 2008 in Berlin.         

The following conferences will also be held in 2008:

• “Offshore wind energy in France and Germany” conference on October 28th 2008 in Paris.
• “Effects of wind energy on the landscape and local acceptance” on October 29th 2008 in Paris.           

Results of the “Noise Emissions of Wind Turbines” Conference
Although wind turbines have grown considerably more silent over time, residual noise emissions are still one of the main arguments of opponents of wind energy. This is still more common in France than in Germany, as many wind energy projects are not approved there due to noise-related issues.    
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1 Seehttp://fee.asso.fr/ for current figures on the development of wind energy in France. The site http://www.enr.fr/espace_adherents/carteparcs.php contains a map of wind farms in France. 
 
2 See the website of the Coordination Centre for Wind Energy, http://www.wind-eole.com/de/node/49, for the funding model.

3 See the website of the Coordination Centre for Wind Energy, http://www.wind-eole.com/de/node/9, for a list of all member companies.

Source:
M. Persem, M. Bahrenberg
(Coordination Centre for Wind Energy)
DEWI Magazin NO. 33, August 2008