Strong headwind, clear stance: Olaf Lies about the first “Cuxhaven Appeal”  

When the expansion of offshore wind energy stalled at the beginning of 2013, Olaf Lies – then Minister of Economic Affairs in Lower Saxony – together with other representatives of the coastal states, sent a signal: The first Cuxhaven Appeal warned against a standstill in the energy transition and called for reliable framework conditions. 

The BARD Offshore 1 substation at night
Men LiesIn 2013, you were one of the first signatories of the Cuxhaven Appeal. Do you still remember the mood back then—what motivated you personally to take such a clear stand in favor of the offshore wind industry? 

It certainly wasn't easy. At the time, the offshore sector was facing strong headwinds: The proposals made by Federal Ministers Altmaier and Rösler in February 2013 were unfortunate for the expansion of renewable energies overall. The so-called electricity price brake became a brake on investment, particularly for offshore wind energy. The timing could hardly have been worse, having just introduced the liability regulation and the necessary system change for offshore grid connections. The proposals carelessly fueled a high level of uncertainty among all involved, thereby jeopardizing jobs in Germany. The Federal Employment Agency had warned that around 5.000 of the approximately 18.000 jobs in the offshore sector nationwide were at risk. 

Cuxhaven Appeal is signed
The expansion of offshore wind energy stalled, and many companies were unsettled. What was the moment when it became clear to you that a strong, unified message was needed? 

We were faced with the problem that an industry that had recently been booming had almost come to a standstill. Many jobs and invested public capital were at risk. As if the situation weren't difficult enough, offshore wind energy was unfairly used as a scapegoat. Individuals denigrated offshore wind energy as a cost driver of the energy transition and, through distorted calculations, portrayed it as a particularly expensive technology. This development was unacceptable – not only for the industry itself, but for Germany's energy security as a whole. It was clear to us: The federal government had to regain the lost trust of the industry and investors and ensure a reliable framework for offshore wind energy. In this increasingly Given the escalating situation, stability was needed through forward-looking policies. A strong alliance and a compelling appeal from the coastal states were needed.   

Olaf Lies in conversation with the offshore wind industry
When you look back today on the Cuxhaven Appeals from 2013 onwards – what effect did they have, and what significance does the first one have for your political work to this day? 

In 2013, an urgent political wake-up call emanated from Cuxhaven, which was heard loudly in Berlin and whose echoes still resonate today. We thus provided precisely the right and groundbreaking impetus to raise political awareness (of the problem) and ultimately achieve an increase in expansion targets. This was a tremendous success. Our demands bore fruit and were reflected in political programs – for example, in the federal government's amended Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG 2014). Today, no one seriously questions the importance of offshore wind energy for energy and climate policy goals. It should not be forgotten, however, that our North German alliance did the core work for this. The fact that offshore wind energy was ultimately firmly integrated into energy policy and, moreover, became a key to the energy transition is a credit to this. Looking back, we can proudly say that the Cuxhaven Appeals, and especially the first one, are significant milestones in the history of German transformation – and they will continue to resonate at least as long as we continue to successfully advance this process. 

Olaf Lies speaks out in favor of the Cuxhaven Appeal
What was particularly important in 2013:  
  • The 400 MW BARD Offshore 1 wind farm goes fully operational 
  • With the “Federal Offshore North Sea Plan”, the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has published what it claims is the world’s first offshore network plan. 
  • The Federal Requirements Plan Act comes into force. It regulates which power lines in Germany are considered necessary and particularly urgent for the energy industry.  
  • The Federal Environment Ministry’s noise protection concept for porpoises in the North Sea comes into force.  
BARD Offshore 1 turbine under construction