The lack of offshore wind auctions in Germany is putting jobs at risk in the country’s supply chain, according to WindEurope.
The trade body said the last auction was in April 2018 and no more are scheduled until 2021.
It added that a “disappointing perspective” for future auction volumes to 2030 means order books in the supply chain are “drying up and it’s unclear when and how they will be filled”.
WindEurope said Germany has an opportunity to put offshore wind back on track in its National Energy and Climate Plan for 2030.
The country currently plans 15GW by 2030 but could “comfortably deliver 20GW and a higher volume by 2035”, it said.
“As things stand they are being less ambitious in relative terms on their offshore wind build-out than the UK, Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark and Poland,” WindEurope said.
The trade body said local politicians from Bremen have strongly criticised the German federal government for a lack of ambition and the damage this is doing to jobs and growth in the region.
It said the transmission system operator Amprion had questioned whether Germany would have sufficient power generation capacity if they didn’t accelerate the build-out of offshore wind at the same time nuclear and coal plants are being closed.
WindEurope Chief executive Giles Dickson said the wind industry will treat the National Energy Plans as investment brochures and invest in those countries that have the most ambitious Plans.