20 GW to 2030

Almost unnoticed by the public, the parliamentary groups of CDU / CSU and SPD have brought an increase in the expansion figures for offshore wind energy by 2030 into play in the so-called Energy Collection Act. The law passed (Drucksache 19/6155) states: “The parliamentary groups of the CDU / CSU and SPD will ask the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) to grant scenarios in the 15 to 20 gigawatt range for the further planning of offshore wind farms create and submit promptly ”.

Increasing the expansion target to 20 GW has long been a core requirement of the BWO (Federal Association of Wind Farm Operators Offshore - formerly AGOW), as well as the entire industry and the northern German states. The current expansion target of 15 GW by 2030 comes from a time when the average costs for electricity generation from offshore wind were many times higher than those of the last offshore wind tenders. The BWO expressly welcomes the fact that the government factions are now opening the door to an economically and climate-politically sensible expansion of offshore wind energy. At the same time, however, the BWO criticizes the specific proposal of the government groups: “The federal government cannot shift the stronger expansion of offshore wind energy to an authority”, says Uwe Knickrehm, BWO managing director, “Instead, the federal government needs clear political will and ultimately a new legal one Basis, ”continues Knickrehm. The offshore wind farm operators and their association would be ready and able to provide consultations and specific proposals for the implementation of the 20 GW target at any time.