German unions and conservation groups have called for ecological concerns to be part of future offshore wind tenders.
In a letter to the Federal Ministry of Economics and Climate Protection, the The German Environmental Aid (DUH), German Nature Conservation Ring (DNR), German Federation of Trade Unions (DGB) and IG Metall warned of the negative consequences of the current tender design.
In 2023, offshore wind energy areas were auctioned for a total of €13.4bn euros and due to the prevailing highest bidder principle, two well-capitalised companies paid the majority of it the letter stated.
The organisations said in 2024, this threatens to repeat itself in both rounds of tenders – the high land prices increase cost pressure on the supply chain, industry and employees and encourage unnecessarily high offshore electricity prices.
The protection of nature, species and jobs, on the other hand, has so far played little role in the allocation of land, they added.
The organisations therefore present six concrete criteria for a social-ecological reform of offshore tender design. These include the environmental aspects of circularity, sustainable shipping and nature-inclusive design. From a social perspective, good working conditions, resilient industrial transformation and sustainable training and further education are particularly important.
“The important expansion of offshore wind energy must take more into account ecological and social minimum criteria than before and allow a variety of actors access to the limited areas,” said DUH federal managing director Sascha Müller-Kraenner.
“The highest quality offer must not always be chosen, but rather the best quality offer.
“Diversity of actors, human rights and species protection must be ensured throughout the entire supply chain. To achieve this, the price criterion must be significantly weakened, while ecological and social criteria take centre stage.”
DNR managing director Florian Schöne added: “For us environmental associations, one thing is clear: the expansion of offshore wind energy must be carried out in a nature-friendly manner.
“The climate crisis and the dramatic loss of biological diversity can only be solved together. It is therefore all the more important to place a stronger focus on ecological criteria when allocating land. Because the strain on marine ecosystems is immense.
“It is important to strengthen protected areas, secure marine species and habitats – for example through environmentally friendly shipping – and promote technical innovations. Lowering or suspending environmental standards is definitely the wrong answer to the common challenges.”
Member of the executive board of the DGB Stefan Körzell said: “Offshore wind power shows whether the transformation is working. Good jobs and strong industrial production of the future must be created here.
“When it comes to the allocation of offshore space, only those who do their part – namely pay according to tariffs and build European-made systems – can be allowed to take part.
“I therefore expect politicians to adapt the tender criteria accordingly.”
District manager of IG Metall Coast Daniel Friedrich added: “The offshore auctions shouldn’t just be about money, but must also be about better work, more added value and more environmental protection.
“The federal government must specify criteria in the tenders that prevent cutthroat competition and help to maintain a wind industry with good, collectively agreed jobs in Germany and Europe.
“We also expect that occupational health and safety will be given greater consideration. The people who are promoting the energy transition out at sea must be protected as best as possible.”