Germany has left the door open to adding up to 20GW of extra offshore wind by 2030, though industry groups have called on Berlin to offer more concrete indications of support.
German politicians last week disappointed the offshore industry by passing new legislation that backed 8GW of onshore wind and solar power only.
However, offshore wind was mentioned in a preliminary declaration accompanying the new legislation, according to industry lobby group BWO.
In the declaration, Germany’s main political parties said they would ask the country’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency to investigate further planning scenarios for 15-20GW of additional offshore wind by 2030.
BWO said it “expressly welcomes” that Germany’s governing parties “are now opening the door to a stronger expansion of offshore wind energy”.
However, the group was critical of lawmakers for appearing to pass responsibility for offshore wind planning onto the maritime agency.
“The federal government cannot deport the stronger expansion of offshore wind energy to an authority,” BWO managing director Uwe Knickrehm said.
“Instead, it requires the clear political will of the federal government and ultimately a new legal basis,” he added.
Politicians from various parties stood up in parliament on Friday to complain about offshore wind’s limited appearance in the new legislation, it is understood.