Germany’s Federal Network Agency has launched an offshore wind tender comprising a total of 5500MW on three centrally pre-investigated areas in the North Sea.
The three sites are located about 110km north-west of Borkum on the edge of the border with the Dutch exclusive economic zone.
The Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency has carried out a preliminary investigation of the zones on behalf of the Federal Network Agency.
Essential information – for example about the marine environment, the subsoil and the wind and oceanographic conditions – was collected.
These will be made available to all interested parties as part of the call for proposals.
Successful bidders no longer have to carry out these investigations themselves, unlike in the case of areas that have not been centrally pre-examined, the Agency said.
The seabed lease award will be based on a legally prescribed points system. Up to 60 points will be awarded for the bid value, which reflects the bidder’s willingness to pay.
In addition, so-called qualitative criteria will be applied.
The proportion of electricity from renewable energy sources in the production of the turbines, the proportion of trainees, the use of particularly environmentally friendly foundation methods and the extent of long-term electricity supplies to third parties will also be evaluated.
A total of up to 35 points will awarded for the qualitative criteria, with 90% of the successful bidder’s payments being used to reduce electricity costs.
In the last tenders for centrally pre-examined areas in 2023, in which a total of 1.8GW had been put out to tender, total proceeds of €784m had been generated.
Bids must be submitted by 1 August, 2024. Once the bids have been reviewed and the award procedure has been carried out, the bidders will be informed of the decision and the results of the tender will be published.
Those who are awarded the contract will have the right to apply to the responsible Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency for planning permission for the development of an offshore wind farm on the land.
In addition, there is an entitlement to connect the site to be built to the power grid for the transport of the electricity generated by the offshore wind turbines.
In addition to the latest auction, the Federal Network Agency has already issued a tender for 2.5GW on 29 January on areas that have not been centrally pre-examined.