At least 70 gigawatts of offshore wind are sensible and necessary
- Only 70 gigawatts of offshore wind energy generate 220 terawatt hours annually
- BWO is critical of mandatory overplanting and calls for flexibility
- Supply chain needs stable framework conditions for value creation and employment
The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) shows in its new area development plan that expanding offshore wind energy to at least 70 gigawatts by 2045 can generate over 220 terawatt hours of climate-friendly electricity annually - with reduced grid costs. The Federal Association for Offshore Wind Energy (BWO) fundamentally supports the idea of "overplanting", but calls for flexibility in its design.
Berlin, February 13, 2025 The BWO supports the proposal by the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency that the grid and wind farm do not always have to be the same size in future offshore wind expansion. This enables more efficient planning. "However, wind farm developers should not be obliged to install a fixed proportion of additional systems, as this increases electricity costs," says Stefan Thimm, Managing Director of the BWO. The decision as to the extent to which the grid capacity is exceeded through overplanting should be up to the wind farm developers. "Wind farm developers are experts in cost-efficient electricity generation and have a vested interest in maximizing electricity yield. They should therefore retain this freedom of choice. The 20 percent rule for overplanting in the current offshore wind auction should not serve as a future model," says Stefan Thimm, Managing Director of the BWO.
Yield-oriented land planning is a win
The BSH's new area development plan and calculations by the Fraunhofer Institute for Wind Energy Systems (IWES) also show that offshore wind energy, with the planned expansion to at least 70 gigawatts, can supply over 2045 terawatt hours of climate-friendly electricity by 220.
The analysis by Fraunhofer IWES for the area development plan shows that an expansion to at least 70 gigawatts with a high electricity yield is possible. The areas away from the coast, which are to be built up in a few years, are particularly productive. "The BSH's outlook takes yield into greater account and the Fraunhofer analysis shows that offshore wind turbines cast less shadow on each other with clever land use planning. This is a good basis for future expansion," says Thimm.
Each additional offshore wind turbine increases electricity production
Calculations by Fraunhofer IWES show that an expansion to at least 70 gigawatts in the North and Baltic Seas can deliver around 220 terawatt hours of climate-friendly electricity - significantly more than an expansion to 50 or 60 gigawatts. "Every additional offshore wind turbine increases the yield," explains Dr. Martin Dörenkämper, yield analysis expert at Fraunhofer IWES in Oldenburg.
The expansion also contributes to security of supply, as the wind often blows differently in areas far from the coast than in areas near the coast. "A share of around 30 gigawatts in the area far from the coast west of shipping route 10 ideally complements the 40 gigawatts already determined in the area near the coast. This further stabilizes the already very constant electricity generation from offshore wind," says Dörenkämper.
Planning security required for industry
The long-term goal of at least 70 gigawatts is also of great importance from the perspective of the supply chain. "Stable framework conditions are essential for the successful ramp-up of the German and European supply chain in the offshore wind sector. Only with long-term planning security can we exploit the full potential for value creation and employment," emphasizes Jost Backhaus, Managing Director of the foundation manufacturer Steelwind Nordenham.
Background
In the 2024 area development plan, the BSH presented a proposal to reduce grid costs for future expansion. This envisages "overplanting" - a combination of a wind farm and a smaller grid connection. This requires higher investments on the part of the wind farm operators. The smaller grid connection means that part of the theoretically possible electricity yield has to be throttled back in optimal wind conditions.
About the BWO:
The Federal Association for Offshore Wind Energy (BWO) is the political lobby for the offshore wind industry in Germany. We pool the technical expertise of companies along the entire value chain, from manufacturers to developers and operators to offshore wind energy service providers. For politicians and authorities at federal and state level, the BWO is the central contact for all questions relating to offshore wind energy.