Change of course needed to ensure Germany meets ambitious offshore wind target

The industry organisations – the BWE, BWO, VDMA Power Systems, WAB, WindEnergy Network and OFFSHORE-WINDENERGY, a non-profit – said the success of the energy transition in the country and the likelihood that a target of 70 GW of offshore wind by 2045 can be met depends on a change of course by the German government.

The industry bodies said it was an important signal that the 70-GW target was reaffirmed in the recent coalition agreement but, without a change of course, they say, that target is unlikely to be met. They called on the government to promptly and decisively implement changes that will enable what they described as ‘cost-optimised’ expansion of offshore wind, with a focus on security of supply.

At the top of their list of demands is a new revenue model that will “guarantee project implementation and investment security.” The industry bodies reiterated oft-highlighted calls for the use of a two-side Contract for Difference (CfD) regime and measures to ensure that power purchase agreements (PPAs) are not curtailed. The fact that Germany’s most recent auction for offshore wind only secured €180M (US$211M) – significantly less than in previous tender rounds – “is a clear sign that developers are facing an unhealthy level of risk,” they say. “The declining number of bidders – to the minimum of two that were required – and the corresponding decline in the size of bids clearly demonstrate the urgent need for reform,” the industry bodies state, calling for a ‘fundamental overhaul’ of German auction design by the end of 2025.

The industry bodies also want the government to adjust the statutory implementation period within which operators must demonstrate the operational readiness of offshore windfarms, from six months to at least 12 months after completion of the grid connection. Doing so would better reflect planning realities faced by large-scale projects and reduce connection costs, they say.

The industry coalition wants greater emphasis on addressing the issue of wake effects in German windfarms and wake effects between windfarms in different countries, to maximise full-load hours, and wants the government to move quickly to implement other measures that have already been tacitly agreed. These include the federal government assuming greater responsibility for financing port infrastructure – as promised by the new maritime co-ordinator of the Federal government – and the introduction of a guarantee programme for the construction of offshore converter stations.

The recent auction for the N-9.4 offshore wind area, which took place in June 2025, introduced the concept of ‘mandatory overplanting’ of 10-20%, to achieve greater utilisation of the available grid connection, but the offshore wind organisations believe this requires a more flexible approach to planning to be introduced, one that is better balanced between developers and grid operators. “The ‘sweet spot’ for the optimal level of overplanting varies depending on location and should be the responsibility of the project developers,” they conclude, noting in addition to work that needs to be done in Germany, two points must be implemented at the European level.

The first is the European tendering framework needs to be harmonised, through the implementation of the Net Zero Industry Act “in as many European offshore wind markets as possible.” The second is that a ‘level playing field’ must be created across Europe, along with policy support for European manufacturers and suppliers.

The wind industry bodies also called on the German government and on the EU to address security-related vulnerabilities in offshore windfarms, particularly cyber security, and implement the EU NIS2 Directive ‘efficiently and swiftly.’ The same applies to the swift implementation of the European CER Directive on the physical protection of critical infrastructure, they concluded.

As of 30 June 2025 1,639 offshore wind turbines with a total capacity of 9.2 GW were connected to the German grid. A further 1.9 GW is under construction and final investment decisions have been made for projects with a capacity of 3.6 GW. Further projects with a combined capacity of 17.5 GW have been awarded but not yet commissioned, according to consulting firm Deutsche WindGuard, working on behalf of the industry associations and organisations in the German offshore wind sector.