The European Commission has approved new amendments to the German Offshore Wind Energy Act under EU State aid rules.
Legislation changes include an increase in the country’s capacity targets from 20GW to 30GW by 2030 and from 40GW to 70GW by 2040 as well as adding a new goal of 40GW by 2035.
A new tender procedure has also been introduced that will allow offshore wind electricity producers to bid for sites in the German Exclusive Economic Zone that have not been centrally pre-investigated by the German government.
The Commission has also approved a new dynamic bidding procedure for tenders for non-centrally pre-investigated sites, which will allow Germany to differentiate and select between multiple bids with a bid value of zero.
This amended scheme will continue to be applicable until the end of 2026 and will further contribute to achieving the country’s energy and environmental targets as well as the EU’s strategic objectives set out in the European Green Deal.
European Commission executive vice president in charge of competition policy Margrethe Vestager said: “The amended scheme approved today is a very good example of how EU State aid rules enable Member States to support green energy projects, such as offshore wind energy generation.
“It will contribute to achieving the EU Green Deal’s ambitious energy and climate targets, without unduly distorting competition in the Single Market.”