The German 250-MW-Wind-Program

Historical overview of the German 250 MW Wind Program, perhaps the most significant effort of any country to support the piloting and demonstration of new wind turbines and wind turbine designs. The paper also details the criteria used in the grant application process and in the quota system meant to benefit domestic manufacturers. Emphasis is on the German government’s proactive response to new technologies that are not yet scaled to break into the existing industrial energy market; by using public funds to supplement research and development, and by freely disseminating the resulting technical advances, the Germans have both accelerated their domestic wind power deployment and cultivated a mature export manufacturing industry.