Wind energy at sea supplies clean electricity for a sustainable Germany and is already a mainstay of the energy transition. They are characterized by large amounts of electricity, constant energy production, low costs and high acceptance.
In this area you will find the latest news, job offers and statements from the BWO. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
We are the federal association of all companies that plan, build and operate offshore wind farms in Germany. We are thus pooling the strength and know-how for a successful energy transition in Germany and Europe.
Contracts for difference (CFD) reduce investment risks and thus the financing costs of offshore wind projects. As a result, the electricity generation costs drop by around 30 percent.
In addition, contracts for difference (CFD) reduce the risk of negative impacts of changes in the legal framework on awarded projects. Contracts for difference therefore increase the probability of realization and ensure the continued operation of offshore wind farms. This ensures that the expansion targets are achieved, serves to protect the climate and contributes to security of supply.
Contracts for difference are attractive for investors due to the effects mentioned above. This strengthens the added value in the country and secures jobs.
Contracts for difference have been tried and tested internationally and are already being used in several European countries (DK, UK, IT, FR). Poland and Lithuania also recently decided to use contracts for difference for the refinancing of offshore wind farms in the future.
The demand for contracts for difference is now coming from all parts of the economy. In addition to the wind farm operators, manufacturers and the supply chain as well as large parts of the financial sector and industry for offshore wind farms also support the difference contract model.
24 new plants with 229 MW went into operation in the first half of the year Total capacity increased to 8.385 MW Positive trend in project implementation discernible Gap between expansion targets
“Today's award of four offshore wind farm areas in the German North Sea and Baltic Sea by the Federal Network Agency with a capacity of 7 gigawatts is a big step
The European Commission yesterday proposed the Net Zero Industry Act to expand the production of net zero emissions technologies in the EU.
Press statement by Stefan Thimm on the European Commission's electricity market plans
As part of the association consultation, the BWO issued an opinion on the present draft law. In addition to the auction design, topics such as grid connection, implementation deadlines and dismantling are also addressed here.
The offshore industry defines fields of action for the next legislative period: securing the achievement of the offshore expansion targets, further developing market design, promoting green hydrogen for offshore wind, deepening the co-use approach
The amendment to the WindSeeG, which is to be decided in the Bundestag today, points the way for the further expansion of offshore wind energy in Germany.
"Today's agreement on the WindSeeG is a big step in the right direction," says Stefan Thimm, Managing Director of the BWO. However, there is still a need for discussion regarding the financing model.
"We very much welcome the joint declaration of the Baltic Sea bordering states on the further expansion of offshore wind energy", commented Stefan Thimm, BWO managing director, on the signed "Baltic Sea Offshore Wind Joint Declaration of Intent". However, there are obstacles on the German side.
“Clear expansion paths are important and create planning security for producers and consumers of green electricity. We therefore welcome the course taken by the Federal Government,” comments Stefan Thimm, Managing Director of the Federal Association of Wind Farm Operators Offshore eV, on the amendment to the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG).
“We should all be concerned with expanding offshore wind energy as cost-effectively as possible and thus ultimately relieving the burden on electricity customers,” says CEO, Catrin Jung, as part of yesterday's online event organized by the Federal Association of Offshore Wind Farm Operators e.V. (BWO).
The demand for contracts for difference is now coming from all parts of the economy. Manufacturers, large parts of the financial sector and offshore wind farm industry are in favor of the difference contract model.
In the RWE video, you can find out why contracts for difference are the better remuneration model than the previous one.
Contracts for difference (CFD) reduce investment risks and thus the financing costs of offshore wind projects. How exactly?
“It is not true that the introduction of a second bidding component will relieve electricity customers in the long term. On the contrary!” – comments Stefan Thimm on the position of the federal government.
"With today's judgment, the Federal Constitutional Court has confirmed that the exclusion of the Kaikas project from future tenders without compensation was not lawful," explains Stefan Thimm, Managing Director of the BWO.
"Especially in light of the low expansion, we welcome the fact that the anchoring of 20 GW offshore wind energy by 2030 and 40 GW by 2040 will now create long-term planning security. With the increased expansion targets, offshore wind energy strengthens climate protection and creates economic development, ”comment the industry organizations BWE, BWO, VDMA, WAB and the OFFSHORE WINDENERGIE foundation on the offshore expansion figures published today by Deutsche WindGuard.
"We welcome the decision of the Federal Council to discourage the planned second bid component in the tendering of offshore wind energy and to recommend the introduction of contracts for difference instead.", Commented Stefan Thimm, Managing Director of the Federal Association of Wind Farm Operators Offshore eV, on the result of today's Federal Council meeting.
“The adoption of the WindSeeG is an important signal. However, we see the tender modalities as more than critical and also as a hurdle to achieving the goals,” opened the BWO board chairwoman, Catrin Jung, the BWO event on Monday afternoon.
"Today's decision to change the WindSeeG is pursuing the right goal - but from our point of view the way to get there is wrong," says the managing director of the BWO, Stefan Thimm, regretting the change to the WindSeeG.
"The fact that 20 GW offshore wind energy is now finally anchored in law and that an expansion target beyond 2030 is being formulated for the first time is of course very welcome.", BWO managing director, Stefan Thimm, comments on the federal government's draft bill to amend the WindSeeG. Songs would create hurdles on other important points.
In their joint letter, which was also sent to the Federal Ministry of Economics, the industry representatives emphasize the willingness of the offshore wind industry to take responsibility for the rapid reconstruction of the German economy, which has been weakened by the Corona crisis, in the spirit of the European Green Deal.
The transmission system operators, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA), the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH), the federal government and the coastal states have reached an agreement to expand offshore wind energy to 20 GW by 2030.
How do the framework conditions for offshore wind farms have to be adapted so that the expansion targets can be implemented cost-effectively? 1. BWO's online breakfast talk got to the bottom of this question.
As part of an online press conference this morning, Stefan Thimm, Managing Director of the Federal Association of Wind Farm Operators Offshore eV (BWO), presented the "BWO recommendations for action for the legal framework for wind energy at sea".
Both BWO board chairmen, Catrin Jung, as well as managing director, Stefan Thimm, had planned to take part in tomorrow's top meeting on offshore wind energy, which had to be canceled at short notice due to COVID19. The focus of the event should have been the question of what measures need to be taken to implement the 20 GW target for 2030.
The second round of tenders for offshore wind energy again confirmed in April 2018 that zero-cent bids are possible for offshore wind farms. An alternative surcharge mechanism would be possible.
