German offshore wind developers are calling for better compensation for grid delays and flexibility on construction dates for offshore wind farms in a new energy law that will begin being debated in the country’s parliament tomorrow.
The German Wind Energy Offshore Association (BWO) is calling on legislators to seize the opportunity to increase investment security and the probability of implementation for offshore wind farms (OWP).
Rules that hinder offshore wind expansion can also be found in the Wind Energy at Sea Act (WindSeeG). The law should therefore also be amended, BWO argues.
Stefan Thimm (pictured), managing director of the BWO, said: “Anyone who wins the bid for an offshore wind farm in an auction should be able to be sure that the investment is worthwhile.
“Only then will enough new wind turbines be installed at sea to supply industry with green electricity and achieve the offshore wind expansion targets.
“The BWO therefore proposes to abolish the time and financial deductibles as an amendment to the Energy Industry Act.
“So far, OWP operators have only received compensation of only 90 percent of the lost feed-in tariff or the monthly market value from the 91st day of the grid connection delay.”
The BWO also sees a need for action with regard to the WindSeeG.
Thimm added: “The implementation deadlines for the construction of wind farms should be adjusted.
“To this end, the date for proving technical readiness for operation must be extended in the WindSeeG, a gradual increase in penalties must be anchored and the compulsory revocation of the surcharge must be abolished.”