With approximately 35 per cent of the wind power capacity installed worldwide, Germany is the largest market for wind energy in the world - and there is every indication that this situation is set to continue. The wind turbines installed to date cover a little more than 4 per cent of Germany's total power requirements.

The overriding ambition is for the renewable energy sources that constituted approximately 10 per cent of the total energy supply in 2004 to cover 12.5 per cent in 2010, 20 per cent in 2020, and 50 per cent in 2050.

Germany capacity at present totals 18,000 MW, and it is expected that around 23,000 MW will be installed onshore by 2010, along with 1,300 MW of offshore capacity. Four years on, these figures are forecast to have increased 25,000 and 5,600 MW respectively. The corresponding estimates for 2020 are 28,000 MW on land and 21,000 MW offshore, of which the majority will be located in the North Sea. The German government predicts that the German offshore capacity will reach 25,000 in 2025-30. As such, it appears there is political consensus for creating favourable terms for rapid and efficient development of offshore wind power installations.

In parallel with the installation of new wind turbines, there is considerable potential in what is known as "repowering" (upgrading existing turbines). It is likely that repowering projects will take on increasing significance from 2010 onwards.