Press statement by the German Offshore Wind Energy Association on the exploratory results

Berlin, March 11, 2025: The German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) expressly welcomes the fact that the CDU/CSU and SPD have agreed in their exploratory talks to use all the potential of renewable energies. This is an important signal for the energy transition and long-term planning security in the industry. At the same time, the BWO firmly rejects the Association of Municipal Companies' (VKU) call for a reduction in offshore wind expansion targets.

"Anyone who calls for a reduction in the long-term offshore wind expansion target is either saying goodbye to climate protection targets or accepting a risky dependence on hydrogen imports. Offshore wind energy, on the other hand, is a central pillar for climate protection and resilience in the energy system. The legally set expansion target of at least 70 gigawatts of offshore wind by 2045 can provide around 220 terawatt hours of climate-friendly electricity annually and is therefore a central component of the energy transition. It also creates long-term planning security in the offshore wind industry. A reduction in the target would jeopardize investments, slow down the ramp-up of the offshore wind industry and make the German economy unnecessarily dependent on energy imports," explains Stefan Thimm, Managing Director of the BWO.

"The area development plan of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency already takes into account optimal power densities and efficient use of the available areas. In the new area development plan, the agency proposes measures to reduce costs and increase yields while maintaining the same expansion target, which are a good basis for discussion for us. For the long-term expansion of offshore wind energy, the agency expects an average of 3.600 full-load hours - with an installed capacity of 70 gigawatts and billions in savings in grid expansion. In January, together with the Federal Association of the Energy and Water Industries (BDEW), we also submitted proposals for the optimal increase in yield in order to ensure efficiency and profitability, and we are also involved in the consultation on the new area development plan," said Thimm.

Instead of cutting expansion targets, market-based solutions are needed to ensure optimal use of offshore wind energy. Flexible handling of overplanting, i.e. the installation of more wind farm capacity than grid capacity, enables more efficient use of the grid infrastructure. Binding requirements for throttling offshore wind farms, on the other hand, are not effective and would impair the economic viability of offshore wind farms.

A stable expansion target of 70 gigawatts secures long-term investments and creates reliable framework conditions for the offshore wind supply chain. This is essential for manufacturers of wind energy components, suppliers and the maritime industry, which are highly dependent on a plannable expansion perspective. A departure from this target would create uncertainty for the entire industry and slow down the urgently needed expansion of renewable energies. 

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.