Dong Energy has given a guarded welcome to draft rules unveiled by Berlin last week to support almost 3GW of offshore wind in two new tenders next year.
The Danish utility said the new WindSeeG reforms will bring down the cost of German offshore wind.
The 2.9GW volume proposed by the draft law for delivery in the period 2020 to 2024 is up from 2.4GW included in earlier plans, which were heavily criticised by the offshore wind industry.
Dong executive Trine Borum Bojsen said the company welcomed the opportunity to participate in both tenders.
“This [the tender] is a valuable recognition for achievements made,” she said, pointing out that a number of projects are well positioned to enter the auction.
However, Bojsen added that annual expansion targets need to be increased.
“To lower the cost of offshore wind sustainably and at the same time maintain thousands of jobs in the German supply chain, the annual expansion targets need to be raised considerably. Anything else endangers Germany as an offshore wind location,” she said.
The group of wind farm operators AGOW and the German Engineering Association VDMA have issued similar calls for higher expansion goals for projects connected post-2024.
“Not compensating projects would compromise the trust in Germany as a location for business,” AGOW head Uwe Knickrehm said.
Image: Dong
Dong sounds German caution
Developer gives guarded welcome to Berlin's new offshore wind tenders
By EBS