Facts on the German state elections in Lower Saxony

The coastal state of Lower Saxony is the backbone of Germany's mighty wind power industry and an important contributor to the country's Energiewende. More than one fifth of Germany's total wind power capacity is located in the north-western state, which also boasts the highest number of employees in the renewables sector. It still sources a large part of its electricity from nuclear power, but the share of renewables in power production looks set to keep growing regardless of the outcome of state elections on 15 October. [Update adds 2017 results]