2022 – Lots of tailwind, little budget: Research in times of the Easter package 

With the Easter package 2022, the German government is accelerating the expansion of offshore wind and represents clear ambitiousre For Fraunhofer IWES, this initially means more Work and new responsibilities. But at the same time, research budgets are being cut. Andreas Reuter reports on a year of contradictory signals – and explains why scientific expertise remains indispensable for expansion.    
Professor Reuter, in 2022 the traffic light government with the “Easter package” clear The pace of offshore wind expansion has increased. How do you describe this development from the perspective of Research experienced and wie has your Work at IWES changed? 

"In principle, this has resulted in a positive impulse: suddenly there was considerable more to do. However, the problem surrounding the KTF meant that our Research budget from then BMWK was reduced by more than half. Dthe worse emerging economic situation effect for many actors no Research euphoria triggered. So rather limited enthusiasm. " 

Your institute supports land use planning with data, measurements and analyses. What What motivates you personally and where do you see the biggest difference that research can do here?     

"The BWhat is special about our research is the rapid implementation in practice. Usually Research results are only put into industrial application after many years. With us it is different - partially is built first and then researched. That motivates immensely, because we can immediately experience the impact of our work." 

The demands on new offshore areas are enormous: it is about wind, grid, environment and conflicts of use. Where do you currently encounter limitations in your work and what would necessary to be able to provide even better support? 

"Well, there is certainly plenty to do, but our financial resources are limiting us enormously. Obviously is, for example, a portion of the revenue from tenders directly to invest in related research - the but doesn't seem to be well received." 

If you could give one wish to politicians or administration: What would have to change Change your perspective so that scientific expertise contributes even more to the success of energy transition? 

"We are currently very concerned about the medium-term perspective of the European Wind energy industry and competition with China. Nobody here wants the same To achieve this, we need a sustainable European Approach that also addresses the problem of foreseeable supply bottlenecks and the already existing dependencies. First very careful There are already discussions – but far too reserved and slow. So, more seriousness and pace would be our wish here." 

What was also important in 2022:  
  • Europe brought a total of 2022 gigawatts of offshore wind power capacity online in 2,5 – in the form of 306 new offshore wind turbines installed in seven offshore wind farms. Europe's total installed offshore wind capacity reached 30,3 gigawatts. 
  • The 342 MW Kaskasi wind farm goes online in the German North Sea. 
  • “Easter package” (EEG 2023 + WindseeG amendment): Raising the statutory offshore wind targets to at least 30 GW by 2030, 40 GW by 2035, and 70 GW by 2045. 
  • Introduction of a bid component for areas not centrally pre-investigated. 
  • Vattenfall is exercising its right of entry for site N-7.2, which will later be developed under the name Nordlicht I.