Three quarters of Germans think the federal government should “push ahead” with the expansion of offshore wind, according to a survey published by the Federal Association of Energy and Water Management (BDEW).
In the survey 75% of respondents said they supported more offshore wind.
The majority of those surveyed also said they wanted to see “more cooperation” in the expansion of offshore wind at the European level.
Some 77% agreed with the statement “Europe should work more together”.
BDEW management board chairman Kerstin Andreae said: “Only through cross-border European cooperation in the development, connection and operation of wind turbines at sea can their potential be optimally exploited.
“The expansion of offshore wind energy must become a European project.
“Germany should use its European Council Presidency to further expand European cooperation in this area.”
Andreae added: “It is good that the federal government wants to significantly increase the expansion targets for offshore wind energy.
“With the second bid component envisaged by the federal government in tenders for wind energy projects at sea, these goals cannot be achieved.
“It increases the risks for investors, drives up project costs and thus makes the German market unattractive in international competition.
“Instead, the federal government should resort to alternatives to the second bidding round, such as contracts for differences.”
Andreae also said offshore wind expansion is key to development of a hydrogen economy.
“Due to the high proportion of full load hours, offshore wind energy is ideally suited for the production of green hydrogen.
“This potential should be used for plants that are connected to the network of several EU member states,” Andreae added.