Alright, AfD, let's talk about your freshly appointed chancellor candidate's bold call to remove all wind turbines in Germany—what she referred to as "windmills." While the rhetoric may sound dramatic, let's step back and analyze this idea as rationally as possible. What would it take to dismantle all of Germany's wind turbines, and what would be the true cost? The numbers tell a story that's hard to ignore.
1. Decommissioning Costs: €6.1 Billion
Germany currently has 30,620 wind turbines (as of 2024). Each one of these turbines is a complex structure, requiring significant resources to dismantle and safely recycle. On average, decommissioning a single turbine costs about €200,000. Multiply that by the total number of turbines, and the bill comes to €6.1 billion.
That's no small number, but it's just the beginning of the financial and environmental fallout.
2. Lost Energy Revenue: €1.53 Trillion
Germany's wind turbines aren't just sitting there for show—they are workhorses of the energy grid. Over a 25-year lifespan, a 3 MW onshore turbine produces energy worth €23 million, while a 10 MW offshore turbine generates a staggering €98.5 million.
To keep things conservative, let's estimate an average revenue of €50 million per turbine. For Germany's 30,620 turbines, that translates into €1.53 trillion in lost revenue. Yes, trillion. That's nearly half of Germany's annual GDP wiped out by a single policy proposal.
3. Missed Climate and Economic Opportunities
Let's not forget why these turbines exist in the first place. Wind energy plays a crucial role in reducing Germany's CO₂ emissions and combating climate change. Removing this capacity wouldn't just be a step backward; it would be a free fall into a more polluted, fossil-fuel-dependent future. The consequences would include:
- Increased reliance on fossil fuels, bringing higher energy costs and worsening air quality
- Rising health expenses due to pollution-related diseases
- Lost jobs in the renewable energy sector, from manufacturing to maintenance
Germany has spent decades building a renewable energy ecosystem that not only addresses climate change but also bolsters the economy. Throwing that away would be nothing short of disastrous.
The Bottom Line: Over €1.536 Trillion in Costs
Let's add it all up. Decommissioning the turbines would cost €6.1 billion, and the lost energy revenue would amount to €1.53 trillion. That's a total economic impact of over €1.536 trillion—and that's before factoring in secondary costs like increased health care burdens and unemployment.
The Don Quixote Effect: Tilting at Windmills
AfD's proposal feels like something straight out of Don Quixote—a misguided battle against imaginary foes. Germany's wind turbines aren't the enemy. They're a symbol of progress, innovation, and leadership in the global fight against climate change. Tearing them down would make Germany a laughingstock on the world stage and set the country back decades in its energy transition.
It's easy to criticize the current government, but Germany's achievements in renewable energy are something to be proud of. Rather than tearing them down, let's work to build on that progress and continue moving forward—not backward.