In 2024, 73 offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 742 MW were commissioned and new foundations and turbines were also installed
Expansion of offshore wind energy faces decisive decisions
The future federal government must continue to secure sufficient offshore wind energy areas and offer reliable expansion prospects
Offshore wind energy expansion requires modernised and expanded seaports
30 GW target expected to be reached by 2031
Berlin, Bremerhaven, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Rostock, 4 February 2025 – The industry associations of the German offshore wind industry and the non-profit German Offshore Wind Energy Foundation published the expansion figures for 2024. The figures prepared by the consulting firm Deutsche WindGuard show that a total of 73 offshore wind turbines with a capacity of 742 megawatts (MW) fed into the electricity grid for the first time in Germany during this period. In addition, 66 foundations had been installed by the end of the year and 81 turbines had been erected that had not yet fed any electricity into the grid. In total, 1,639 turbines with a capacity of 9.2 gigawatts (GW) were installed in Germany at the end of 2024. Delays in grid expansion and statutory defined flexibility in the completion of offshore wind farms mean that the expansion target of 30 GW is expected to be reached in 2031. However, the target for 2035 of at least 40 GW will be met one year earlier. This requires predictable framework conditions for the industry.
“The expansion of offshore wind energy is about to take a decisive turn. The new German government has every opportunity to stabilise and improve the framework conditions in such a way that investment security is guaranteed and the climate targets are achieved at the same time. This includes, among other things, a reliably set expansion path – as agreed by law to at least 70 GW by 2045 – with attractive areas and a reform of the tender design for offshore wind projects,” said the industry organisations BWE, BWO, VDMA Power Systems, WAB e.V., WindEnergy Network e.V. and the OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE Foundation, commenting on the current challenges facing the industry.
Investment decisions need reliability
An increase in the supply of green energy lowers prices for customers, as does the continuous utilisation of supply chains. Therefore, reliable expansion targets are of central importance for the long-term planning of the industry and the expansion of offshore wind energy projects. A renewed system break in the development of this key technology must be avoided at all costs. The Federal Government is still required to secure the offshore wind energy areas necessary for the long-term expansion path laid down by law and to offer a reliable expansion perspective in order to achieve the climate targets by 2030 and beyond and to secure the value creation potential. Compared to an earlier version, the new area development plan from the responsible federal office offers less clarity about 20 GW of expansion by the mid-2030s. The new government must provide this clarity immediately. Space potential, also in cooperation with neighbouring countries, should be exploited efficiently.
Reform tender design
The current practice of offshore wind energy tenders is not in line with the necessary expansion, as the focus on state revenues increases electricity costs and puts immense financial pressure on the supply chain. A reformed tender design should fulfil a number of requirements also with regard to tender criteria:
Harmonised as far as possible at European level
Create the conditions for favourable electricity prices
Strengthen the European value chain and the innovative strength of the industry
Ensure a high probability of project realisation
Reduce risks and secure investments
Preserve the diversity of players
In this way, value creation potential can be leveraged, the necessary investments in the billions can be mobilised and reliability can be achieved for the project sponsors
Focusing on the security of the energy infrastructure
The increasing importance of offshore wind energy projects for the energy supply also increases the need to better protect the critical maritime infrastructure. The German government must therefore take prompt action to ensure the physical safety of offshore wind turbines and the associated grid connection. This includes the clarification of responsibilities, training exercises with the federal police or state water police and the famous telephone number with contact persons in the event of an emergency. It is also essential to ensure the cyber security of the facilities with political measures, such as the effective implementation of NIS2 or the EU’s Cyber Resilience Act.
Port expansion as the key to the energy transition
A rapid expansion of offshore wind energy requires modernised, expanded and efficient ports. For the assembly, logistics and maintenance of offshore wind turbines, sufficient heavy-duty areas are needed that can also be used for onshore wind energy. This is a task for the entire state. The federal government must therefore assume greater responsibility in the coming legislative period and support the expansion or modernisation of the heavy-duty areas in the ports required for the energy transition.
Offshore wind as an opportunity for the maritime industry
The expansion of offshore wind energy offers great opportunities for the maritime industry and its suppliers. From converter and foundation production, harbour logistics and shipbuilding to maintenance technology: the offshore wind industry creates new added value and sustainably
strengthens Germany as a business location. In view of the currently weakening economy, this must be the basic understanding of a business and industry-friendly policy. Germany is organising the conference of the North Sea states this year. Concrete resolutions on the coordination of project processes, safety initiatives, tendering regimes as well as network and port infrastructure should be on the agenda.
Source: Stiftung OFFSHORE-WINDENERGIE
The post New government must act: Industry needs more plannability! appeared first on Baltic Wind.
Read More Baltic Wind