Germany’s Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency (BSH) has published the final version of its offshore wind area development plan, designating where future offshore wind farms will be based.
It determines how and when these areas are to be put out to tender, when the wind farms are to be connected to the onshore power grid and it regulates the technical principles for the connection lines.
The plan was published along with environmental reports as part of the strategic environmental assessment, which identified, described and assessed the potential impacts of implementing the plan on the marine environment.
The area development plan lays the foundation for achieving the expansion target of 30GW by 2030 and implements the new offshore wind energy law that came into force on 1 January.
With the publication of the area development plan, the BSH is also carrying out the tasks from the offshore implementation agreement between the federal government, the federal states and the transmission system operators of 3 November, 2022 on time.
“With the early implementation of the increased offshore expansion targets in the area development plan, the BSH is making an important contribution to the accelerated energy transition. At the same time, updating the technical plan ensures the upcoming ambitious expansion of offshore wind energy and the necessary coordination with the grid connection,” said the head of the Order of the Sea department at the BSH, Dr Nico Nolte.