German Economy Minister Habeck Optimistic About Wind Energy Sector at Hamburg Trade Fair

Habeck speaks at wind energy trade fair in Hamburg

HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - The international wind energy trade fair WindEnergy begins on Tuesday (10.30 a.m.) in Hamburg. Federal Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) is to address the guests via video during the opening ceremony. A speech by Hamburg's Senator for Economic Affairs Melanie Leonhard (SPD) has also been announced. The organizer expects 1,600 exhibiting companies from 40 countries and around 40,000 visitors from around 100 countries to attend the trade fair. The trade fair will focus on plant technology, digitalization and financing, among other things. For example, participants will be talking about lighting systems, the use of artificial intelligence and insurance for offshore projects. Planners, manufacturers, suppliers, financiers, operators and service providers from the onshore and offshore industry will be represented. The organizer is Hamburg Messe und Congress, the company belongs to a subsidiary of Hamburg./lkm/DP/zb

Habeck sees wind power on the right track

HAMBURG (dpa-AFX) - According to Federal Minister of Economics Robert Habeck (Greens), politicians have successfully made preparations for the expansion of wind energy. The Minister said during the opening of the WindEnergy Hamburg trade fair via video: "I would say that for the first time in German energy history, the political side has done its job." There is always room for improvement, but there is no bottleneck in the expansion of wind energy on the political side, said Habeck. The "practical side" is now required. The minister was probably referring to the business representatives in the audience at the trade fair. Habeck said it was about transportation, production and installation. Around 40,000 trade visitors expected WindEnergy Hamburg is a multi-day trade fair for the international market that is organized by Hamburg Messe und Congress every two years. This year, the organizer is expecting 1,600 companies and around 40,000 visitors from the onshore and offshore sector. The exposition ends on Friday. Habeck: Turnaround complete Habeck had announced that an annual expansion of ten gigawatts of onshore wind power was to be achieved by the middle of the decade. This year, the ten gigawatts will be achieved in auctions, Habeck said at the trade fair. As announced, 30 gigawatts of offshore wind power are set to be built by 2030 - and that is with turbines in the North Sea alone. A 180-degree turnaround has been achieved in the expansion of renewable energies, Habeck said beforehand. "And I am really proud of what we have achieved." By "we", he meant the Federal Government, the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWK) and its employees, as well as the federal states, local authorities and agencies. Habeck also mentioned BMWK State Secretary Philipp Nimmermann and his predecessor Patrick Graichen (both Greens) by name. Company boss calls for better infrastructure "The industry can and will deliver," announced Udo Bauer, head of the Lower Saxony wind turbine manufacturer Enercon. Unlike Habeck, he does not see a bottleneck. The order situation is good - and the companies are prepared. There are still problems with the transportation of wind turbines. A better infrastructure is needed than before, said Bauer, citing bridges and roads as examples. Transport permits for the turbines are also still an issue. Industry associations are also expressing dissatisfaction. Leonhard praises progress in the industry Hamburg's Senator for Economic Affairs, Melanie Leonhard (SPD), said that the wind industry was at a turning point. "We have seen impressive progress in recent years." Technologies are becoming more efficient, costs are falling and the acceptance of renewable energies is increasing worldwide. Innovations must be called for and scientific findings must be shared, said Leonhard. According to Leonhard, digitalization and artificial intelligence are important for the industry. These could be used to make accurate predictions about wind speed and the condition of turbines. Trade union: Difficult to fill vacancies A few days before the start of the trade fair, the industrial trade union Metall Küste presented the results of a survey in which works councils from 30 companies in the wind industry took part. The survey revealed that 82.1 percent of the companies had problems filling vacancies. In the previous year's survey, the figure was 86.6 percent. "The skilled labor situation in the wind industry is so tense that, according to the trade union, it could impair the expansion of wind power in Germany," said IG Metall Küste./lkm/DP/men