Germany’s draft Wind Energy at Sea Act (WindSeeG) has been amended to include measures to accelerate the market’s development.
The measures include the new expansion targets, the prioritising of offshore wind energy in maritime spatial planning, short-term tendering of additional areas and reorganisation of responsibilities in authorities and ministries.
“The will to accelerate offshore expansion is clearly running through the entire draft law,” said BWO managing director Stefan Thimm on the current draft of WindSeeG.
He said the industry is “still concerned about the auction design”.
Thimm said: “With regard to the achievement of targets, we see major risks, especially in the segment of non-centrally pre-examined areas.”
It would be better to have criteria that aims at a whole system approach, for example, the provision of storage or electrolysis capacity near a grid node, he added.
He said the bid component, which was discussed in the last legislative period, increases the capital costs for the financing of offshore wind farms, driving up the electricity price.
“Not least in view of the current political situation, a further increase in energy costs for industry and households should be avoided at all costs,” said Thimm.
BWO has suggested that the principles of the tender for areas not centrally pre-examined should be laid down with the amendment in an ordinance authorisation, allowing room to discuss the concrete design once again in a large stakeholder round.
As part of the association consultation, the BWO issued a statement on the present draft law this morning. In addition to the auction design, topics such as grid connection, implementation deadlines and dismantling are also addressed in it.