Special contribution  offshore

The Federal Association of Wind Farm Operators Offshore (BWO, formerly AGOW) published a statement on the Energy Collection Act today. The statement is also supported by the OFFSHORE WIND ENERGY Foundation. In this, the BWO particularly emphasizes the need to implement the special contribution offshore wind energy and the increase in the expansion target by 2030. “Offshore wind energy is a success story. The federal government must accelerate the expansion instead of slowing down. Offshore wind energy must therefore be taken into account in the Energy Collection Act, ”explains Uwe Knickrehm, Managing Director of BWO eV. The special contribution for offshore wind energy is provided for in the coalition agreement of the federal government. The industry demands a short-term special contribution of 1,5 GW. This requirement is shared by the network operators. Industry representatives are calling for the expansion target to be increased from 2030 GW to at least 15 GW by 20.

Offshore wind energy is currently contributing more and more to clean electricity generation in Germany with an installed capacity of around 6 GW. In addition, since 2013, according to the BMWi's AGEE Stat, more than 15 billion euros have been invested in the development of the offshore wind industry. Around 27.000 people are now employed in the industry. These successes should be further supported by an additional special contribution from offshore wind energy - as provided for in the coalition agreement of the federal government - with the Energy Collection Act. In addition, the BWO is calling for improvements to the draft law regarding the lighting requirements for offshore wind farms as well as the new concepts for offshore wind farms without grid connection and the innovation tenders.

The Energy Collection Act will be discussed on Tuesday in the Energy Committee and should be passed by the Bundestag this year.