Today marked an important milestone for the advancement of Airborne Wind Energy in Germany, as the fourth Parliamentary Breakfast dedicated to the technology took place at the German Bundestag.
The event was kindly hosted by MP Mark Helfrich, who has been a consistent and valued supporter of AWE and its potential role in Germany’s renewable energy future.
Representatives from leading German AWE companies and Airborne Wind Europe members, including Mark Hoppe (SkySails), Florian Breipohl (EnerKÃte), and Christoph Drexler (Kitekraft), joined Kristian Petrick, Secretary General of AWEU, for in-depth discussions with parliamentarians and their technical staff.
Economic impact and job creation: First study results shared
A key highlight of the meeting was the presentation of initial findings from a new study on the economic impacts and job creation potential of Airborne Wind Energy in Germany. The study, conducted by Dr. Maria Polugodina from DIW Econ, offers compelling evidence of the added value that domestic AWE production and deployment could bring to the German economy, both in terms of sustainable employment and industrial innovation.
Airspace integration: Sector calls for action
The second major topic addressed was airspace integration, a critical regulatory barrier for scaling AWE technologies. On this point, the sector was strongly supported by Dennis Rendschmidt (VDMA). A regulatory proposal on airspace integration was distributed during the session, aiming to enable the first commercial-scale AWE projects in Germany in a safe and controlled manner.
A constructive exchange and a shared vision
The breakfast provided another important opportunity to advance dialogue between policymakers and the AWE sector. The discussions were productive, highlighting a shared interest in easing the path for innovation while ensuring technical safety and economic benefits.
We thank all participants for their engagement and look forward to the next steps in supporting the rollout of AWE in Germany and Europe, as a key game-changing solution to achieve Europe’s climate, energy, and industrial goals.