Seven wind industry associations have called for at least 2GW of additional capacity to be added to German offshore wind targets, ahead of a so-called crisis summit with the Federal Ministry of Economics.
The representative groups, which says 24,500 jobs rely on the offshore wind industry, said a “reliable framework and ambitious expansion targets” would result in better utilisation of production capacity, secure the position of companies along the entire production chain and facilitate the sector’s export potential.
The group believes that increased contribution of wind energy is “unavoidable” given the country’s goal of 65% renewable energy by 2030, and says the industry can realise 20GW by 2030 and 30GW by 2035 if ambitious targets are set now.
“With a contribution of up to 2GW, the free converter capacities can be used in an economically sensible way. In Cluster 3, the grid connection system NOR 3-3 (DolWin6) is currently being used to less than 30 percent of capacity for several years following the commissioning of the corresponding converter,” said a statement.
“In addition, in the Baltic Sea the area of the recently approved Gennaker project (capacity just under 1 GW) can be considered. A grid connection system could be set up and put into operation here by 2024/2025. The connection of area O-1.3 (potential: 300 MW) could be preferred,” added the statement.
To ensure a tender for areas becomes available before the end of the year, the group calls for “legal prerequisites” to be put in place.
“The commissioning of the projects … could begin as early as 2023,” said the group.
The crisis summit is scheduled to take place in Berlin on the afternoon of 5 September.