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Trade Association Calls for Germany Offshore Wind Energy Act Reform

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The German Federal Association for Offshore Wind Energy, or BWO, called for an immediate amendment to Germany's Offshore Wind Energy Act, including a reform to the tendering process, to support the industry's rapid expansion.

Germany connected 84 offshore wind turbines, with an equivalent capacity of around 1.1 gigawatts, to the grid in H1, according to BWO's report on Tuesday. This brings the total number of turbines installed in the German North and Baltic Seas to 1,764, equivalent to 10.8 gigawatts.

On top of this, 22 more turbines, totaling 323 megawatts in capacity, are under construction, while 2.6 GW of projects have received final investment decisions. Another 17.5 GW of projects are awaiting FIDs.

With the current industry plans, 30 GW of offshore wind capacity is expected to be installed in the country by 2032, according to BWO.

"Although the expansion of offshore wind energy is currently progressing, the results of the latest tender rounds show that the existing regulations no longer reflect current market conditions," the association said.

"In particular, the lack of bids in August 2025 demonstrates the urgent need for a swift amendment to the Offshore Wind Energy Act."

BWO highlighted that there should be a modification to the tendering process, to include an indexed, two-sided contracts for difference model to minimize financial risks.

"It is also necessary to create a practical hedging mechanism for long-term power purchase agreements so that PPAs become financially viable for banks and acceptable to small and medium-sized industrial enterprises," BWO said.

The proposed amendments aim to boost project realization and ensure competitive electricity pricing for consumers, according to the statement.

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