Statement on the key questions for the consultation on Annex 3 to the FEP

Berlin, March 14, 2025. The German Offshore Wind Energy Association (BWO) has submitted its statement on the planning variants for zones 2025 and 4 outlined in the 5 Site Development Plan (FEP). The statement answers the questionnaire of the Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) and formulates clear positions on key aspects of the expansion plan.

A key point of the statement is the need for a balanced cost assessment in offshore wind expansion. Cost optimization potential must not be realized unilaterally at the expense of project developers. Therefore, grid cost optimization must not serve as the sole guideline for expansion planning. Instead, the BWO calls for a holistic national accounting approach that systematically weighs the business and economic arguments of both transmission system operators (TSOs) and offshore wind farm developers.

With regard to the so-called Overplanting The BWO points out that this measure entails significant investment costs for developers. Therefore, the decision on the optimal level of development should, in principle, rest with the developers themselves.

Based on this statement, the BWO will continue the dialogue with the BSH and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection (BMWK).

The full statement can be found here: 20250314_BWO-Statement_BSH-Key Questions